testament

American  

[tes-tuh-muhnt] / ˈtɛs tə mənt /

noun

1. Law.

   1. a will, especially one that relates to the disposition of one's personal property.

   2. will.

2. either of the two major portions of the Bible: the Mosaic or old covenant or dispensation, or the Christian or new covenant or dispensation.

3. (initial capital letter) the New Testament, as distinct from the Old Testament.

4. (initial capital letter) a copy of the New Testament.

5. a covenant, especially between God and humans.

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testament ¹ British  

/ ˈtɛstəmənt /

noun

1. law a will setting out the disposition of personal property (esp in the phrase last will and testament )

2. a proof, attestation, or tribute

   his success was a testament to his skills

3. 1. a covenant instituted between God and man, esp the covenant of Moses or that instituted by Christ

   2. a copy of either the Old or the New Testament, or of the complete Bible

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Testament ² British  

/ ˈtɛstəmənt /

noun

1. either of the two main parts of the Bible; the Old Testament or the New Testament

2. the New Testament as distinct from the Old

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Other Word Forms

• testamental adjective

Etymology

Origin of testament

1250–1300; Middle English: will, covenant < Latin testāmentum, equivalent to testā ( rī ) to bear witness ( testate ) + -mentum -ment

Example Sentences

One of the numbers frequently cited as a testament to Bell Labs’ innovation is the patents the organization amassed—now around 30,000.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

“The Grinch meal captured fans’ attention, a true testament to the power of the McDonald’s brand with the right marketing execution,” said McDonald’s Chief Financial Officer Ian Borden during a February earnings call.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 25, 2026

Not the best team in the country this year, but truly a testament to teamwork and hard work and talent retention.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026

Though Brendon faced challenges in his life and career, his work on Buffy remains a testament to his ability to connect with audiences through humor, loyalty, and emotional honesty.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026

Nonetheless, the simple existence of the Indian slave trade— thousands of native men and women working in bondage for Europeans—was a testament to Indians’ catastrophic loss of power and status.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Related Words

• proof
• testimonial
• testimony