testamentary

American  

[tes-tuh-men-tuh-ree, -men-tree] / ˌtɛs təˈmɛn tə ri, -ˈmɛn tri /

Sometimes testamental

adjective

1. of, relating to, or of the nature of a testament or will.

2. given, bequeathed, done, or appointed by will.

3. set forth or contained in a will.

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testamentary British  

/ ˌtɛstəˈmɛntərɪ /

adjective

1. of or relating to a will or testament

2. derived from, bequeathed, or appointed by a will

3. contained or set forth in a will

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Other Word Forms

• nontestamentary
  adjective
• untestamental
  adjective
• untestamentary
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of testamentary

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English word from Latin word testāmentārius. See testament, -ary

Example Sentences

To prove undue influence, coercion and the lack of testamentary capacity, you would need doctor’s reports and a paper trail of evidence to make your case.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 30, 2026

Don’t rule out the Legal Aid Society and National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, which deal with a lot of cases of undue influence and lack of testamentary capacity.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 11, 2026

Not everyone who has dementia lacks testamentary capacity, but your relative’s failing health and cognitive issues certainly complicate matters.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 24, 2026

Critics of testamentary freedom say it can also be used to coerce and control.

From BBC • Jul. 29, 2015

That the stream of things is now making for more moderate fortunes, and more of them, is confirmed by the testamentary statistics of the previous ten years published some time ago by the Spectator newspaper.

From Contemporary Socialism by Rae, John