credence

noun

cre·dence ˈkrē-dᵊn(t)s

Synonyms of credence next

: mental acceptance as true or real

give credence to gossip

: credibility sense 1

lends credence to the theory

an idea that is gaining credence

: credentials

—used in the phrase letters of credence

[Middle French, from Old Italian credenza] : a Renaissance sideboard used chiefly for valuable plate

: 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 However, a 2017 survey done by Salt Lake City (only for residents there) found 38% of homes had dogs, which does lend credence to that estimate being in the right ballpark. —

Andy Larsen, The Salt Lake Tribune, 2 Sep. 2023 Pskov is approximately 400 miles from Ukraine, lending credence to Zelenskyy's announcement of long-range capabilities. —

Fox News, 1 Sep. 2023 Any future discovery of these would lend credence to Lykawka and Ito’s claim. —

The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 31 Aug. 2023 Compared with the devil, angels carry more credence in America. —

Karim Doumar, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2023 This lends credence to the theory that ASU and Utah could be convinced that their best financial plan would be to move to the Big 12. —

Jeremy Cluff, The Arizona Republic, 31 July 2023 Now a trooper enforcement campaign by the Alaska State Troopers wildlife division gives some credence to those accusations. —

Yereth Rosen, Anchorage Daily News, 11 Aug. 2023 This notion is given credence when Miko falls for Meredith (Sonoya Mizuno) and reconsiders her single status. —

Odie Henderson, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Aug. 2023 His three World Series rings and a couple thousand career victories sure help give some credence, too. —

Shawn McFarland, Dallas News, 18 June 2023 See More

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

See more words from the same century