English Reference
noun

testimony

n.
US /ˈtɛstəˌmoʊni/ UK /tˈɛstɪməni/ tes·ti·mo·ny UK spelling testimonies, testimony's

  1. 01 C1 Advanced Formal Law

    a formal statement made by a witness in a court of law.

    a formal written or spoken statement given in a court of law, usually under oath.

    Simple

    The jury listened carefully to the witness's testimony during the trial.

    In context

    The prosecution relied heavily on the eyewitness testimony, which provided a detailed account of the defendant's whereabouts on the night of the crime.

    Usage

    Often used with the verbs 'give', 'provide', or 'hear'.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced Formal

    something that serves as clear proof that a fact or situation is true.

    evidence or proof of a fact, quality, or event.

    Simple

    The success of the project is a testimony to her hard work.

    In context

    The enduring popularity of the novel is a testimony to the author's profound understanding of human nature.

    Usage

    Commonly used in the phrase 'a testimony to'.

    proofevidenceattestation
    disproofcontradiction
  3. 03 C1 Advanced Formal Religion

    a personal story about someone's religious faith or a spiritual experience.

    a public recount of a religious conversion or spiritual experience, typically shared within a faith community.

    Simple

    Several members of the church shared their personal testimony during the Sunday service.

    In context

    The service concluded with a moving testimony from a recent convert who described how the community had supported his spiritual journey.

Just as accounts of UFO encounters are human testimonies, not scientific evidence, so all our thinking about aliens and how to find them is best understood as humanity’s evolving self-portrait.

The Guardian· 11 Aug 2026

It comes as Union released testimonies from ambulance workers describing the difficult and "vile" conditions they have had to work in.

BBC News· 6 Aug 2026

PIE word *tréyes Inherited from Middle English testimonie, from Old French testimonie, from Latin testimōnium (“testimony”).

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

This entry
Origin Latin testimōnium
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Common
Updated