Testimony

Testimony is a formal statement given by a witness about what they have observed or experienced. In legal contexts, testimony is typically presented under oath or affirmation in court or during other proceedings and is used to establish the facts of a case. The word derives from Latin testis, meaning witness, and from testificare, to bear witness.

Testimony in court is typically delivered by a witness who has sworn an oath. It is followed by examination-in-chief and cross-examination, with opportunities for clarification in redirect. Supporting forms include sworn depositions and affidavits, which are statements made under oath outside of or before trial. Hearsay evidence, or secondhand statements, is generally inadmissible unless a recognized exception applies, such as business records, dying declarations, or statements against interest.

Outside strictly legal contexts, testimony can refer to personal or religious declarations in which a person attests to experiences or beliefs. It may also describe expert testimony, where a qualified specialist explains technical matters to inform a jury or decision-maker.

In scholarship and history, testimony is a primary source providing firsthand accounts. Its reliability depends on factors such as perception, memory, bias, and credibility, and it is often weighed alongside corroborating evidence to form judgments about events or facts.