testimonial

American  

[tes-tuh-moh-nee-uhl] / ˌtɛs təˈmoʊ ni əl /

noun

• testimonials
  plural

1. a written declaration certifying to a person's character, conduct, or qualifications, or to the value, excellence, etc., of a thing; a letter or written statement of recommendation.

2. something given or done as an expression of esteem, admiration, or gratitude.

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adjective

1. pertaining to or serving as a testimonial.

   a testimonial dinner for the retiring dean.

testimonial British  

/ ˌtɛstɪˈməʊnɪəl /

noun

1. 1. a recommendation of the character, ability, etc, of a person or of the quality of a consumer product or service, esp by a person whose opinion is valued

   2. ( as modifier )

      testimonial advertising

2. a formal statement of truth or fact

3. a tribute given for services or achievements

4. a sports match to raise money for a particular player

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adjective

1. of or relating to a testimony or testimonial

Usage

Testimonial is sometimes wrongly used where testimony is meant: his re-election is a testimony (not a testimonial ) to his popularity with his constituents

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• testimonials
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of testimonial

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English word from Late Latin word testimōniālis. See testimony, -al ¹

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Explanation

A testimonial is like a personal recommendation. If you give a testimonial on behalf of a restaurant, then you really like that restaurant. If you've seen the word testimony — meaning spoken evidence in court — then you might have a clue to the meaning of testimonial. Like testimonies, a testimonial is evidence or proof of something good: getting an A in math is a testimonial to your math skills. Testimonials can also be a spoken or written endorsement of something: You might write a testimonial about the awesome cupcakes on your favorite bakery's website, for example.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

testimonial testimonials

But perhaps the most damning testimonial comes from Musk himself – or rather, existing audio recordings of Musk delivered by an AI version of the Tesla and SpaceX CEO, since he refused to participate.

From Salon ● Oct. 16, 2026

In other words, they must be made at the same time as the testimonial or endorsement, whether it’s in a brochure, advertisement, video presentation or social media.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 24, 2026

Because a testimonial is not really going to hit the same.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 5, 2026

In a testimonial video, she said running track and cross-country in high school had taught her about resilience and helped her find a community.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2025

Then for all the world like we were at testimonial time at the Baptist church with forty-five people listening besides God, he commenced to pray.

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns

And so, when they ended up in front of miraculous testimonials of healing, often supplemented by A.I.-generated photos or videos, they took it seriously.

From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2026

When contact is established, scammers work to build trust through flattery, shared personal experiences, romantic interest, fake testimonials and, yes, promises of love or money, the bureau adds.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 14, 2026

"Anecdotes and testimonials are now the strongest forms of evidence – 'my aunt on Facebook did this, therefore it must be true'," she said.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Reddit all feature streams of testimonials from people touting the miracle — and warning of the risks — of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 23, 2026

While I was more than willing to give testimonials for my comrades, I did not want to take any action that would heighten the bitterness between the ANC, the PAC, and the BCM.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

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Related Words

• endorsement
• homage
• ovation
• remembrance
• testament
• testimony

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