credence

noun

cre·​dence ˈkrē-dᵊn(t)s How to pronounce credence (audio)
1
a
: mental acceptance as true or real
give credence to gossip
b
: credibility sense 1
lends credence to the theory
an idea that is gaining credence
2
: credentials
used in the phrase letters of credence
3
[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
Choose the Right Synonym for credence

belief, faith, credence, credit mean assent to the truth of something offered for acceptance.

belief may or may not imply certitude in the believer.

my belief that I had caught all the errors

faith almost always implies certitude even where there is no evidence or proof.

an unshakable faith in God

credence suggests intellectual assent without implying anything about grounds for assent.

a theory now given credence by scientists

credit may imply assent on grounds other than direct proof.

gave full credit to the statement of a reputable witness

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 on the Web The authors give too much credence to innovation and technology, however, and understate three aspects of war. Shashank Joshi, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 Traditional Test match cricket shots don’t get much credence within this set-up. Tim Ellis, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2024 Simple loss-cutting could explain the companies’ actions, says Howell, although some details do lend credence to the idea that Chinese authorities could have also played a role. IEEE Spectrum, 14 Feb. 2024 Wan’s movie lends further credence to the superhero fatigue theory. Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Dec. 2023 Not to give too much credence to those old accusations of Alice Walker and Black feminists being traitorous man-haters, but there is a more visible effort, here, to put forth a more complicated vision of men. Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 24 Dec. 2023 Given the 75-year history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, their concerns are not without credence. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 12 Dec. 2023 The existence of these new mussels lends credence to an older hypothesis advanced by Dr. Distel and his colleagues. Veronique Greenwood, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2024 That such a small number has turned out once again lends credence to claims by e-scooter companies Lime, Dott, and Tier Mobility SE, that the referendum was rigged against them. Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 5 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'credence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of credence was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near credence

Cite this Entry

“Credence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/credence. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

credence

noun
cre·​dence ˈkrēd-ᵊn(t)s How to pronounce credence (audio)
1
: a ready acceptance of something as true or real
give credence to gossip
2
: credibility sense 1
lends credence to the theory

More from Merriam-Webster on credence

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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