testimonies

Meanings

1. 1nounplurallegal

   Formal spoken or written statements, often given under oath in court, about what a person saw, knows or experienced.

   Grammar: Plural of a countable noun: the witnesses gave testimonies, but one witness gave a testimony.

   Patterns

   • testimonies from someone
   • testimonies about something
   • testimonies against someone

   The jury listened to three separate testimonies before the lunch break.

   Their testimonies agreed on the time of the accident but not on who was driving.

   Written testimonies from former employees were added to the case file.

2. 2nounplural

   Personal accounts, often shared publicly, of how someone was helped or changed, especially by a faith, a product or a service.

   Grammar: Plural form used for several personal stories: the church shared testimonies, not evidence.

   Patterns

   • testimonies of something
   • testimonies from someone

   The gym's website is full of testimonies from members who lost weight.

   During the service, two members shared testimonies about recovering from illness.

   Glowing testimonies on the app page convinced me to try it.

3. 3nounpluralformal

   Things that serve as clear evidence or proof of a quality, achievement or fact.

   Grammar: Often followed by to: the ruins are testimonies to the city's wealth.

   Patterns

   • testimonies to something

   The old stone bridges are testimonies to the skill of local builders.

   Her many awards are testimonies to years of steady effort.

   These letters stand as testimonies of a friendship that lasted sixty years.

Word forms

Common combinations

hear testimonies

The committee will hear testimonies from nurses next week.

written testimonies

The school collected written testimonies from parents.

conflicting testimonies

Conflicting testimonies made it hard for the judge to decide.

eyewitness testimonies

Eyewitness testimonies are not always as reliable as people think.

customer testimonies

Customer testimonies appear on every page of the brochure.

give testimonies

Survivors were invited to give testimonies at the hearing.

Synonyms and how they differ

statements

Statements is broader and can be given to police or reporters, whereas testimonies usually suggests a formal setting such as a trial or inquiry.

accounts

Accounts simply tell what happened and need no formal setting, so they sound less official than testimonies.

evidence

Evidence covers objects and documents as well as spoken words, while testimonies are always someone's own telling.

affidavits

Affidavits are written sworn statements, so they are narrower than testimonies, which may be spoken.

Word family

testimony noun

a statement of fact, especially in court

testify verb

to give evidence, usually in court

testimonial noun

a statement praising someone or something

testament noun

proof or a lasting sign of something

Commonly confused: testimonies or testimonials?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “testimonies”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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