English Reference
noun · adjective

testimonial

n. · adj.
US /ˌtɛstəˈmoʊniəɫ/ UK /tˌɛstɪmˈəʊnɪəl/ tes·ti·mo·ni·al UK spelling testimonials

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.a statement from a customer praising a product or service to help sell it.

    n.a formal statement testifying to the benefits or quality of a product or service, typically used in marketing.

    Simple

    The company's website features a glowing testimonial from a very satisfied client.

    In context

    The marketing department decided to lead the campaign with a video testimonial from a high-profile industry expert to build consumer trust.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

    n.a formal letter or statement that describes your good qualities and skills.

    n.a formal written statement describing a person's character, conduct, or qualifications, often provided by a former employer.

    Simple

    My former manager wrote a strong testimonial to help me get the new job.

    In context

    The candidate submitted three written testimonials from previous supervisors to attest to his leadership capabilities and technical proficiency.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate British English Sport

    n.a special game played to honour a player who has served a team for a long time.

    n.a match played in tribute to a specific player, often to mark their retirement or long service to a club.

    Simple

    Thousands of fans attended the testimonial for the captain after his twenty-year career.

    In context

    The club organised a testimonial for the veteran defender, with proceeds from the ticket sales donated to his chosen local charities.

    tribute matchbenefit match
  4. 04 C1 Advanced FormalTechnical Law

    adj.used to describe something that acts as proof or evidence.

    adj.relating to or serving as a testimony or formal statement of fact.

    Simple

    The lawyer presented testimonial evidence from three people who saw the accident.

    In context

    The judge ruled that the testimonial evidence was admissible, despite the defense's objections regarding the witness's reliability.

    evidentialprobative

In a previous study, my colleague Volkan Topalli and I analyzed victim testimonials from the website stop-scammers.com.

The Conversation· 2 Sept 2026

From French testimonial, from Late Latin testimonialis (“of or pertaining to testimony”), from Latin testimonium (“testimony”). See testimony.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin testimonium
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated