testator

noun

tes·​ta·​tor ˈte-ˌstā-tər 

te-ˈstā-

: a person who dies leaving a will or testament in force

Examples of testator in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The testator’s answers to questions are used to populate fields in the software. —Virginia Hammerle, Dallas News, 23 July 2023

The type most people think about is a holographic will, which is entirely in the testator’s own handwriting. —Virginia Hammerle, Dallas News, 23 July 2023

In another case, the testator named himself as the sole beneficiary of his estate. —Virginia Hammerle, Dallas News, 23 July 2023

Executors should not disclose details of a will without permission of the testator (the person writing the will). —Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 12 Aug. 2022

Wills and trusts were vulnerable to legal challenge if the testator was deemed insane, and those episodes had inspired whispers about Stanford’s erratic decision-making and her communions with spirits. —Maia Silber, The New Yorker, 30 May 2022

The default survival period: A beneficiary must survive the testator (the person making the will) by at least 120 hours. —Dallas News, 8 Aug. 2021

This allows the testator to avoid burdening a beneficiary who may not have enough income to pay the debt on a particular asset. —Dallas News, 8 Aug. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Middle English testatour, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin testator, from Latin testari

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

testator

noun

tes·​ta·​tor ˈtes-ˌtāt-ər 

tes-ˈtāt-

: a person who leaves a will in force at the time of death

Legal Definition

testator

noun

tes·​ta·​tor ˈte-ˌstā-tər 

: a person who dies leaving a will