What does testimony mean?
Word: Testimony
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Testimony means a formal statement that something is true; also anything that shows something clearly, as good marks can show hard work.
Synonyms: statement
Word origin: From Latin testimonium, from testis, a witness.
How do you spell testimony?
Syllables: tes - ti - mo - ny
Tricky part: The second vowel is an i, but it is said so weakly that students write testamony or testemony.
Watch out for: testamony, testemony
Memory tip: Testify and testimony start the same way, with test and then an i: a person who testifies gives testimony.
Testimony in a sentence
Example 1: The crowded stalls were a testimony to the fair's popularity.
Example 2: Grandpa's testimony about the old village well helped the village council find and repair it.
Example 3: Her neat, well-thumbed dictionary is testimony to years of careful reading.
Fun Fact
Testimonial grew from the same word: it is a letter or statement praising someone's work or character, and many shops print testimonials from happy customers.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Fill in the missing letters to complete the word:
testim_n_
a) a, y
b) o, y
c) o, e
d) e, y
Show answer
b) o, y. The last part sounds like money but is spelt like harmony, m-o-n-y.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word testimony as used in the sentence:
The trophies lining the corridor are a testimony to the school's love of sport.
a) evidence
b) rumour
c) secret
d) denial
Show answer
a) evidence. The trophies are evidence of that love; a rumour is unproved talk, and a denial says the opposite.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning:
1. certifficate 2. signiture 3. documant 4. testimony
a) a paper or file that gives information
b) an official paper given when you pass a course
c) something said or shown that proves a thing is true
d) your name written in your own special way
Show answer
c) something said or shown that proves a thing is true. Certificate has one f, document ends in -ent and signature has an a after the n.
Mingle-Mangle
The sentence contains a jumbled word. Choose the word it hides:
Each scout gave a short ytsnomite about what the camp had taught them.
a) ceremony
b) monotony
c) testament
d) testimony
Show answer
d) testimony. The jumble has an s and a y: ceremony and monotony have no s, and testament has no y.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. If good marks are a testimony to hard work, they ____.
a) were given as a gift
b) show that the work was done
c) make the work unnecessary
d) hide how hard the work was
Show answer
b) show that the work was done
2. What would be a testimony to a gardener's care?
a) rows of healthy, flowering plants
b) a packet of seeds left unopened
c) a garden gate left swinging open
d) a rusty, broken old watering can
Show answer
a) rows of healthy, flowering plants
