testimony

testimony — noun

1. a statement that someone makes after promising to tell the truth in a court of l

1.nounB2
Definition

a statement that someone makes after promising to tell the truth in a court of law, describing what they know about a crime, accident, or other legal matter

Example

The witness gave her testimony in a calm and clear voice.

give testimony (common collocation)

Felix's testimony helped the jury understand what happened on the night of the robbery.

Common collocations
  • give testimony
  • provide testimony
  • offer testimony
  • hear testimony
  • sworn testimony
  • eyewitness testimony
  • expert testimony
  • false testimony
  • testimony about
  • testimony against
  • testimony from
Synonyms
  • evidence

    broader term that includes testimony, documents, and physical objects; not limited to spoken or written statements

  • deposition

    formal written testimony taken outside court, usually before a trial begins; more technical legal term

  • statement

    any spoken or written account, not necessarily given under oath or in a legal setting

Usage Note

Frequently uncountable in legal contexts. When used as a countable noun (e.g. 'a powerful testimony'), it often refers to a specific instance or piece of testimony rather than the general concept.

Common Mistakes

The witness gave an evidence in court.
The witness gave testimony in court.
'evidence' is uncountable and not paired with 'give' in the same way; 'give testimony' is the correct legal collocation.

2. facts, signs, or visible results that strongly confirm that a particular quality

2.nounB2
Definition

facts, signs, or visible results that strongly confirm that a particular quality or situation truly exists

Example

The rising number of visitors is testimony to the city's growing popularity as a destination.

be testimony to something (grammar pattern)

The school's success is powerful testimony to the hard work of both teachers and students.

Common collocations
  • be testimony to
  • stand as testimony to
  • bear testimony to
  • powerful testimony
  • lasting testimony
  • mute testimony
  • testimony of
Synonyms
  • proof

    stronger and more conclusive; applies to facts that cannot be doubted, not just strong indications

  • evidence

    broader term that can refer to any facts or signs; less emphatic than testimony

  • indication

    weaker than testimony; a sign that something might be true rather than clear evidence

Usage Note

Typically follows the pattern 'be testimony to something' or 'stand as testimony to something'. The subject is usually an achievement, result, or visible sign, and the object is the quality or situation it confirms.

Common Mistakes

His high test scores give testimony for his hard work.
His high test scores are testimony to his hard work.
the correct preposition is 'to', not 'for', after 'testimony' in this sense.

Word family

  • testify
    verbB2
  • testifier
    nounC2
  • testimonial
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Testimony, evidence, proof, deposition, and statement all relate to information that supports a claim, but they differ in scope and context. Testimony refers specifically to a witness's sworn account in a legal setting — it is always given by a person under oath. Evidence is the broadest term, covering testimony, documents, objects, and any material that helps establish a fact. Proof is stronger than evidence: it is evidence that is so complete that no reasonable doubt remains. Deposition is a specialised type of testimony taken outside court before a trial, recorded for later use. Statement is the most general word; anyone can make a statement about anything, without any legal formality or oath. For example, after a car accident, a witness might give testimony in court, while the police collect physical evidence from the scene. The driver's insurance statement, however, is just an informal account.

evidence ↗proof ↗deposition ↗statement ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • give testimony
  • bear testimony
  • stand as testimony
  • under oath

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Testimony comes from the Latin word testimonium, meaning 'evidence' or 'witness.' That word in turn comes from testis, meaning 'a witness' — someone who stands as a third party to an event. The root of testis is thought to be related to the idea of a 'third person' (someone who is neither the doer nor the receiver of an action but observes it). English borrowed testimony through French and Anglo-Norman legal language in the 1300s, and it has kept its core legal meaning ever since.