testament
testament
American
[tes-tuh-muhnt]
/ ˈtɛs tə mənt /
noun
-
testaments
plural
-
Law.
-
either of the two major portions of the Bible: the Mosaic or old covenant or dispensation, or the Christian or new covenant or dispensation.
-
(initial capital letter) the New Testament, as distinct from the Old Testament.
-
(initial capital letter) a copy of the New Testament.
-
a covenant, especially between God and humans.
testament
1
British
/ ˈtɛstəmənt /
noun
-
law a will setting out the disposition of personal property (esp in the phrase last will and testament )
-
a proof, attestation, or tribute
his success was a testament to his skills
-
-
a covenant instituted between God and man, esp the covenant of Moses or that instituted by Christ
-
a copy of either the Old or the New Testament, or of the complete Bible
-
Testament
2
British
/ ˈtɛstəmənt /
noun
-
either of the two main parts of the Bible; the Old Testament or the New Testament
-
the New Testament as distinct from the Old
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of testament
1250–1300; Middle English: will, covenant < Latin testāmentum, equivalent to testā ( rī ) to bear witness ( see testate) + -mentum -ment
Explanation
A testament is a statement of belief. The most famous testaments are the two parts of the Christian Bible: the Old and New Testaments. A testament states a belief or gives some kind of direction. The document people leave behind at death is known as the "last will and testament." It gives lawyers directions for dividing their possessions among family and friends. Also, you could say that an A in math class is a testament to your math skills. If you give to charity, that’s a testament to your character. Any testament is a strong statement of some kind.
Vocabulary lists containing testament
Hamilton
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The Westing Game
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Julius Caesar
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The Prince George’s County moratorium is thus a testament to how community resistance can hold elected officials to account—but also a note of caution.
From Slate ● Aug. 6, 2026
A prenup or last will and testament alone may not be enough.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026
“It is a testament to how she looks after herself to achieve some longevity in her career,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
“Yellow Pine” is a testament to her beloved remote corner of the Mojave, its beauties, hardships and endangerments.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
I had added my indelible mark to Laconia Avenue, a testament to the world that Wes Moore lived—or at least Kid Kupid did.
From "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates" by Wes Moore
Mocked by some as the “Darth Vader” façade for its bizarrely helmeted Roman soldiers, the Passion façade embodies the New Testament story of betrayal, suffering and transcendence in angular, expressionistic figures.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
How many malodorously toxic episodes does that make toward the seven plagues in the Old Testament?
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
"Let me say this plainly: this is not a golden calf," he said later that night on X, referring to the Old Testament idol that famously made Moses irate after he received the Commandments.
From Barron's ● May 8, 2026
These portrayals were part of an even longer history of depicting wives as nags and harridans, a narrative device that can be found in the Old Testament.
From Salon ● Apr. 8, 2026
Inside were a pair of moccasins and an illustrated New Testament.
From "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien
The rocket-and-satellite company accounted for almost 30% of his largest fund as of last month, while Tesla represented nearly 19%—unusually heavy concentrations that are testaments to Baron’s faith in Musk.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 27, 2026
Borglum believed the American political system was the apotheosis of human civilization, and he wanted his sculpture to stand alongside the Parthenon and pyramids as testaments to grand civilizations and cultures.
From Slate ● Mar. 13, 2025
These ancient structures, dating from 4,000 to 2,000 BCE, stand as enduring testaments to early human culture and belief systems.
From BBC ● Dec. 29, 2024
They’re cultural landmarks, social gathering spots and testaments to individuality in a world where corporate chains and faceless ghost kitchens continue gaining ground.
From Salon ● Sep. 16, 2024
This supersedes and replaces any and all wills and testaments I may have made at any past time.
From Starman's Quest by Stan Mack
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
