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character witness
noun
: a person who gives evidence in a legal action concerning the reputation, conduct, and moral nature of a party
Examples of character witness in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In 2022, McNally appeared as a character witness in the civil rape trial of the filmmaker Paul Haggis, a friend.
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Matthew Schneier, Vulture, 29 Jan. 2025
The defense’s case focused on emphasizing Neely’s threatening behavior, character witnesses from Penny’s time in the US Marines and challenges to the medical cause of Neely’s death.
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Gloria Pazmino, CNN, 9 Dec. 2024
Along with Penny’s sister and mother, four other character witnesses were called by the defense to testify to Penny’s empathy, honesty and integrity.
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Janelle Griffith, NBC News, 22 Nov. 2024
The defense this week called six people to testify as character witnesses, including Penny’s sister and mother.
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Janelle Griffith, NBC News, 22 Nov. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
circa 1832, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of character witness was
circa 1832
Dictionary Entries Near character witness
Cite this Entry
“Character witness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/character%20witness. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.
Legal Definition
character witness
see witness
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