credential

adjective cre·den·tial \ kri-ˈden(t)-shəl \

Updated on: 23 May 2018

Definition of credential

: warranting credit or confidence —used chiefly in the phrase credential letters

Recent Examples of credential from the Web

But the real victims of this credential inflation are the two-thirds of millennials who didn’t go to college.

— michelle legro, Longreads, "The Downwardly Mobile Generation," 19 Dec. 2017
As school districts face fierce competition for teachers, the Natomas Unified School District is offering to cover most credential program costs, provide free use of a Macbook and give bonus pay for living within district boundaries.

— diana lambert, sacbee, "This school district is offering new teacher bonuses and credential tuition payments," 1 Nov. 2017
This school district is offering new teacher bonuses and credential tuition payments Sacramento school board authorizes campus closures and removal of pickets if teachers strike Never miss a local story.

— ryan lillis, sacbee, "Mayor says Sacramento teacher strike 'would be really damaging to everyone' | The Sacramento Bee," 3 Nov. 2017
From 1985 to 1988, Reagan Attorney General Edwin Meese—an early supporter of the society—helped groom and credential young conservative lawyers by giving key positions in the Justice Department to early leaders of the society.

— neal devins, Slate Magazine, "How the Federalist Society became the de facto selector of Republican Supreme Court justices.," 31 Jan. 2017
States now credential interior designers, tree trimmers, and even florists.

— edward l. glaeser, National Review, "The War on Work — and How to End It," 1 Aug. 2017
Last day of classes May 13-19: Semester exams May 19: Honors and scholars awards ceremony, ROTC Commissioning and Teacher Credential Ceremony May 20-21: Commencement exercises.

— wendy fawthrop, Orange County Register, "CSUF graduating students get a jump on real-world jobs," 9 May 2017
May 19: Honors and scholars awards ceremony, ROTC Commissioning and Teacher Credential Ceremony May 20-21: Commencement exercises.

— wendy fawthrop, Orange County Register, "CSUF graduating students get a jump on real-world jobs," 9 May 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of credential

see credence

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

credential

noun

Definition of credential

1 : something that gives a title to credit or confidence; also : qualification 3a

the applicant with the best credentials

2 credentials plural : testimonials or certified documents showing that a person is entitled to credit or has a right to exercise official power

a doctor's credentials

3 : certificate, diploma

See credential defined for English-language learners

Examples of credential in a Sentence

My experience as a manager is my strongest credential.

Recent Examples of credential from the Web

The botnet stole Facebook and Instagram credentials and collected details from a victim's Facebook account.

— dan goodin, Ars Technica, "Malicious Chrome extensions infect 100,000-plus users, again," 10 May 2018
The sudden interest by Waymo in burnishing its AI credentials is very much tied with its high-stakes effort to deploy vehicles that require no one in the driver seat.

— andrew j. hawkins, The Verge, "Inside Waymo’s strategy to grow the best brains for self-driving cars," 9 May 2018
On the left, victimhood is a prime source of authority, and discourse revolves around establishing one’s intersectional credentials and detailing stories of mistreatment that reinforce them.

— jonathan chait, Daily Intelligencer, "Democrats Have Great Female Presidential Candidates. They Need to Avoid the Victim Trap.," 22 Apr. 2018
Senator Ted Cruz, who was born in Canada and has two Ivy League degrees, wears ostrich-skin cowboy boots to burnish his Texas credentials.

— sam schube, GQ, "James Comey Is a Chelsea Boot Boy," 16 Apr. 2018
Volunteers should check in at the Jacksonville Community Center at 501A Alexandria Rd SW to receive proper credentials and an access pass.

— william thornton, AL.com, "Jacksonville volunteers needed Friday, unclear when city schools will resume," 22 Mar. 2018
CPMs are not required to hold a nursing or other credential and are not authorized to prescribe medication, but require knowledge and experience of out-of-hospital settings.

— aurelie corinthios, PEOPLE.com, "Joy-Anna Duggar's Sister Jill Was There During Difficult Labor — All About Her Midwifery Training," 21 Mar. 2018
The plaintiffs’ attorneys picked apart those witnesses’ credentials and data analysis, arguing that they had not controlled for relevant variables and thus had obtained skewed results.

— christa case bryant, The Christian Science Monitor, "In Kansas voter ID trial, a clash of two visions for America," 20 Mar. 2018
The Federation of State Medical Boards has its own system for tracking state actions and credentials, but doesn’t have all the same information as the data bank.

— john fauber, jsonline.com, "Is your doctor banned from practicing in other states? State licensing system keeps patients in the dark," 28 Feb. 2018

Origin and Etymology of credential

see credence

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1655

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

credential

verb

Definition of credential

credentialed also credentialled; credentialing also credentialling

transitive verb

: to furnish with credentials

… to credential adequate academic performance …
—K. Patricia Cross

journalists who have been credentialed by the Secret Service

Recent Examples of credential from the Web

Yet Curl was still credentialed as a VIP on the pool deck at the 2012 Olympic trials.

— sally jenkins, chicagotribune.com, "USOC can't just look ahead to better sex abuse prevention. It must face its failures.," 11 May 2018
City of Phoenix: Anyone who registers to volunteer with youth sports is background checked following the National Recreation and Park Association guidelines for credentialing volunteers.

— alexis egeland, azcentral, "Are your child's coaches background checked? Not always," 10 May 2018
The Trump Administration has often taken an outwardly hostile stature toward the press that is credentialed to cover it, but the press generally has access to daily briefings and conversations with officials.

— maya rhodan, Time, "Trump Is Threatening to 'Take Away' Reporters' Credentials. He Told TIME He Wouldn't Do That," 9 May 2018
With scouts from nine NFL teams credentialed and likely more watching on TV, Jackson’s mistakes may cost him.

— jake lourim, The Courier-Journal, "The cases for and against Lamar Jackson to enter the NFL draft," 2 Jan. 2018
Unlike Kansas, where the House speaker and Senate president control credentialing for statehouse reporters, media outlets covering the Missouri Capitol do not require specific credentials.

— bryan lowry, kansascity, "‘Unethical’ actions by Missouri publisher in Greitens case spark press corps debate | The Kansas City Star," 3 May 2018
More in Rumble Seat The Volante’s underside is also well credentialed: the front double-wishbone suspension and rear multi-links are supported by coil springs, anti-roll bars and with three-mode adaptive damping (GT, Sport and Sport +).

— dan neil, WSJ, "2019 Aston Martin DB11 Volante: A Six-Figure Car That’s Worth Every Penny," 26 Apr. 2018
Applicants must be fully credentialed or have a 30-day sub permit, credentials/permit must be registered with the San Diego County Office of Education, and fingerprints must be in the San Diego County Office of Education clearinghouse database.

— laura groch, sandiegouniontribune.com, "North County School News, April 19," 19 Apr. 2018
Scott Horner/IndyStar Hall of Fame credentials pretty much come down to one stat for pass rushers: sacks.

— jim ayello, Indianapolis Star, "Is Colts pass rusher Dwight Freeney a Hall of Famer?," 19 Apr. 2018