credence

noun cre·dence \ ˈkrē-dᵊn(t)s \

|Updated on: 11 Aug 2018

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Examples: credence in a Sentence

Editor's Note: What Is The Difference Between credence and belief?

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

Johnson, however, put more credence in Rialmo’s allegation that LeGrier swung the bat.

— dan hinkel, chicagotribune.com, "Trial opens in 2015 police shooting in which bat-wielding teen and bystander were killed," 18 June 2018
And when risks are more palpable, people tend to give them too much credence.

— The Economist, "A case for owning euro-zone shares," 9 June 2018
Kennedy’s willingness to acknowledge America’s flaws, and her ongoing struggle to live up to her ideals, added credence to his message.

— james hohmann, Washington Post, "The Daily 202: RFK’s speech in apartheid South Africa remains relevant 50 years after his assassination," 5 June 2018
Incomprehensibly, Mr Mattarella added credence to that tale by handing the task of forming a stop-gap government to Carlo Cottarelli, a former official in the IMF, an organisation reviled by anti-establishmentarians the world over.

— The Economist, "Political chaos in Italy as new elections beckon," 31 May 2018
Xbox chief Phil Spencer added credence to that idea by disseminating the blog post via a tweet that selectively quotes parts about PC support for Microsoft.

— sam machkovech, Ars Technica, "A fan-made Halo PC patch meets Microsoft’s legal muscle—and apparently survives," 25 Apr. 2018
As for China, the Shanghai stock market’s 23% decline since January lends credence to the view that the economy is dependent on exports.

— the editorial board, WSJ, "So Much Trade Losing," 6 July 2018
The survey referenced by Sculley lent credence to her point.

— gilbert garcia, San Antonio Express-News, "Alamo Plaza redesign effort confronts stubborn fear of change," 30 June 2018
To defend my husband would be giving credence to any of these accusations.

— hilary lewis, The Hollywood Reporter, "Jacinda Barrett Defends Ex-Boyfriend Chris Hardwick Amid Misconduct Scandal," 26 June 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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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