credenza

noun

cre·​den·​za kri-ˈden-zə 

1

: credence sense 3

2

: a sideboard, buffet, or bookcase patterned after a Renaissance credence

especially : one without legs

Illustration of credenza

• credenza 2

Did you know?

In Italian credenza means “belief” or “confidence,” and confidence is just what a member of a noble or royal household needed before eating in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Being poisoned by one’s enemies was an ever-present danger. As a result, it was customary for members of royal or noble families to have a servant taste their food and drink after it left the kitchen and before it was served. The tasting was done at a dining room sideboard, and the name of the sideboard became credenza in Italian.

Examples of credenza in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For example, Carrie positioned an antique mission-style chair next to a mid-century modern credenza. —Lauren Thomann, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 July 2025

The inside feels huge—the living area features a comfy sofa with a credenza that offers storage and can be used as a workspace. —Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 June 2025

Sofas, credenzas, bar stools, ottomans, rugs, bookshelves, ceramic knickknacks, floor lamps, table lamps, desk lamps - each week, Westen and his crew made their way through a fictional Miami, and each stop had to be furnished. —Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 8 July 2025

Decorate coffee tables, credenzas, and dining room tablescapes with one or several of these golden-toned glass hurricanes. —Ali Faccenda, People.com, 6 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Italian, literally, belief, confidence, from Medieval Latin credentia

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for credenza

• cadenza
• influenza
• parainfluenza