credential

adjective

cre·den·tial | \ kri-ˈden(t)-shəl

Definition of credential

(Entry 1 of 3)

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

credential

noun

Definition of credential (Entry 2 of 3)

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

credential

verb

credentialed also credentialled; credentialing also credentialling

Definition of credential (Entry 3 of 3)

transitive verb

: to furnish with credentials … to credential adequate academic performance …— K. Patricia Cross journalists who have been credentialed by the Secret Service

Examples of credential in a Sentence

Noun

My experience as a manager is my strongest credential.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

For accounts that require only a user name and password, hackers turn to free downloadable tools such as Sentry MBA or Hitman, known as credential stuffers. — Robert Mcmillan, WSJ, "Thieves Can Now Nab Your Data in a Few Minutes for a Few Bucks," 9 Dec. 2018 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

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Google's next course of action was to implore users to secure their login credentials with things like two-factor identification. — Sam Blum, Popular Mechanics, "Google Calls Hidden Microphone in Its Nest Home Security Devices an 'Error'," 21 Feb. 2019 Not even Masterson’s agency was spared: Soon after the election, the Election Assistance Commission discovered that more than 100 login credentials had been stolen and put up for auction on the dark web. — Benjamin Wofford, Vox, "The midterms are already hacked. You just don’t know it yet.," 25 Oct. 2018 Schuster is one of a growing number of women turning to self-help gurus who don’t have any formal training or credentials. — Justine Harman, Glamour, "These Self-Help Gurus Might Not Have Have Formal Training—But They Promise to Change Your Life," 20 Dec. 2018 One was a packet sniffer that intercepts Internet traffic passing through the device, including website credentials and Modbus SCADA protocols. — Sean Gallagher, Ars Technica, "Researchers find Russian “VPNfilter” malware was a Swiss Army hacking knife," 26 Sep. 2018 The Michigan businessman and political newcomer and Pensler exchanged barbs over business records, conservative credentials and the president. — Brooke Singman, Fox News, "Trump calls John James 'future star' of GOP after Michigan Senate primary win," 8 Aug. 2018 Those credentials don’t come easily or overnight and usually require advanced training in technology, engineering, or business—or all of the above. — Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, "How to Become a Skilled Tradesperson," 13 Mar. 2019 Researchers at the Hasso Plattner Institute have reportedly discovered that that 611 million of the credentials in Collections #2–5 weren’t included in the Collection #1 database. — Mark Hachman, PCWorld, "A second, massive Collections leak of 2.2 billion email addresses probably has your information," 31 Jan. 2019 Those credentials could qualify her to be one of the most powerful voices in the global economy. — Paul Kiernan, WSJ, "In Miki Bowman, Smaller Banks Await Potential Fed Ally," 1 Nov. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Vendors typically visit the stadium frequently to stock and fill concession and bathroom supplies, but they are credentialed and staffed by a Royals person. — Robert A. Cronkleton And Pete Grathoff, kansascity, "Woman allegedly wanders around Kauffman Stadium for a day, sets small fires," 6 June 2018 Some CPAs are up in arms about a move by their industry’s main trade group to allow people from outside their ranks to be credentialed to help companies value complex assets. — Michael Rapoport, WSJ, "CPAs Fight to Protect Part of Their Turf," 20 Aug. 2018 The Italian owner cut his teeth working at the Italian-run Kestè on Bleecker Street, so the Neapolitan pizzas bubbling in Sottocasa are, to say the least, credentialed. — Keith Flanagan, Condé Nast Traveler, "19 Best Places for Pizza in New York City," 1 Mar. 2018 Though White House reporters are also typically credentialed in Congress, too. — Laura Mcgann, Vox, "Study: male political reporters retweet other dudes 3 times more than their female colleagues," 22 June 2018 That could be a bachelor's degree, associate's degree or industry-specific credentialing program. — James Briggs, Indianapolis Star, "Mayor Joe Hogsett sets lofty education goal for Indianapolis," 29 May 2018 Both Hulsey and one of his deputies were already credentialed and serving under Rader. — David Taylor, Houston Chronicle, "AG ruling clears ways for weight-enforcement officers," 27 Mar. 2018 Would someone better credentialed or more fastidious dump out that water and boil fresh water to cook eggs? — Amiel Stanek, Bon Appetit, "A $50 (Kinda) Brunch You Can Make Even When You’re Extremely Hungover," 24 May 2018 Hines said there will be greater vetting in credentialing media in the future. — Richard Obert, azcentral, "AIA bans 31-year-old twins from high school sports events after messages to teens," 3 May 2018

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.