Testimony Meaning
/ˈtɛstɪmoʊni/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounStatements made by a witness in court.
nounAn account of first-hand experience.
Sentence Examples
The witnesses were able to refute the false testimony of the suspect.
Then John gave this testimony.
This increase in exports bears testimony to the successes of industry.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The jury listened carefully to the witness's ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The jury was deeply moved by the emotional ____ of the victim during the final day of the important trial today.
Word Origin & History
PIE word *tréyes Inherited from Middle English testimonie, from Old French testimonie, from Latin testimōnium (“testimony”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The Missouri prosecutors' case against Clemons, based partly on incriminating testimony given by his co-defendants, was that Clemons was part of a group of four youths who accosted the sisters on the Chain of Rocks Bridge one dark night in April 1991."
— 2012 August 21, Ed Pilkington, “Death penalty on trial: should Reggie Clemons live or die?”, in The Guardian:
"“The suspected cause of the death is believed to be the consumption of tainted alcoholic beverages,” KPL said. “Officials are in the process of collecting detailed information, evidence, and witness testimonies and are expected to release an official statement soon.”"
— 2024 November 21, Helen Regan, Isaac Yee and Eve Brennan, “Australian teens among six tourists dead as countries warn of suspected methanol poisonings in Laos”, in CNN:
"[Thou] for the testimony of truth, hast borne / Universal reproach."
— 1667, John Milton, “Book VI”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
"And whoſoeuer ſhall not receiue you, noꝛ heare you, when yee depart thence, *ſhake off the duſt vnder your feet, foꝛ a teſtimonie against them: Uerely I ſay vnto you, it ſhalbe moꝛe tolerable for Sodom and Gomoꝛrha in the day of iudgement, then foꝛ that citie."
— 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Mark 6:11:
"We may never know the entire history of Atlantis. What little remains at the bottom of the ocean stands in mute testimony to a race of proud and naughty people, their majestic creations now home to fish and barnacles and octopuses."
— 2005, Annabelle du Fouet, “The murky world from whence it all came” (chapter 2), in Weather Balloons Make Rotten Sex Toys, Ellora's Cave, →ISBN, page 38:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The jury listened carefully to the witness's ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The jury was deeply moved by the emotional ____ of the victim during the final day of the important trial today.