credence

noun cre·dence \ ˈkrē-dᵊn(t)s \

Updated on: 22 Apr 2018

Definition of credence

1 a : mental acceptance as true or real

give credence to gossip

b : credibility 1

lends credence to the theory

an idea that is gaining credence

2 : credentials —used in the phrase letters of credence

[Middle French, from Old Italian credenza]

: a Renaissance sideboard used chiefly for valuable plate

4 : a small table where the bread and wine rest before consecration

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Examples of credence in a Sentence

The theory is gaining credence among scientists.
I'm afraid I don't put much credence in common gossip.

Recent Examples of credence from the Web

But jurors might give the defense more credence if a forensic scientist familiarized them with a 2016 Canadian study showing that fathers' DNA is frequently found on their daughters' clean underwear; occasionally, a fragment of sperm is there too.

— katie worth, WIRED, "Framed for Murder By His Own DNA," 19 Apr. 2018
Fox News lent credence to its harshest critics, who contend the network has no journalistic ethics and is nothing more than a propaganda outfit.

— jeet heer, The New Republic, "The Crisis of Pro-Trump Journalism," 18 Apr. 2018
The fear being that to even deny it could be interpreted as a subtle admission that there existed something worth being denied, and that would only lend credence to the tales.

— jason douglas louie, The Root, "Birthday Boy," 15 Apr. 2018
The book will lend credence to arguments that the county should preserve more undeveloped land.

— bruce henderson, charlotteobserver, "Carolina birders took notes for 150 years. Many of the species they saw are gone. | Charlotte Observer," 12 Apr. 2018
Kardashian and Thompson lent credence to the relationship speculation when they were photographed together vacationing with friends in Mexico.

— lisa respers france, CNN, "Khloé Kardashian and Tristan Thompson: A timeline," 11 Apr. 2018
This gives credence to plaintiff's argument that defendant was able to prevent plaintiff and others from discovering any claims against him by moving Burkholder around to other parishes so that Burkholder's conduct would not be disclosed.

— michael mccann, SI.com, "Are USA Gymnastics and Michigan State Liable for Larry Nassar's Actions? It's Complicated," 22 Mar. 2018
The idea that Dowd would go to Flynn and Manafort and have a pardon discussion that Trump himself hadn't sanctioned — i.e., with no real consideration of the pardons — would lend credence to the idea that the motives underlying it weren't so just.

— aaron blake, chicagotribune.com, "3 no-good explanations for Trump's lawyer floating pardons for Flynn, Manafort," 28 Mar. 2018
Still, the timing of the bankruptcy filing lends credence to Feldman's theory.

— michael hiltzik, latimes.com, "Is the Sandy Hook massacre the real impetus behind the Remington Arms bankruptcy?," 27 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'credence.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

What Is The Difference Between credence and belief?

Credence is close in meaning to belief, but there are differences. Unlike belief, credence is seldom used in connection with faith in a religion or philosophy. Instead credence is often used in reference to reports, rumors, and opinions. And, unlike belief, it tends to be used with the words give, lack, lend,and gain. So a new piece of evidence may lend credence to the alibi of a criminal suspect. Claims that a political candidate can become the next President gain credence only after the candidate wins a few primaries. And although stories about Elvis sightings persist, they lack credence for most people.

Origin and Etymology of credence

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Medieval Latin; Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin credentia, from Latin credent-, credens, present participle of credere to believe, trust — more at creed

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First Known Use: 14th century

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