credential

1 of 3

adjective

cre·​den·​tial kri-ˈden(t)-shəl 

: warranting credit or confidence

—used chiefly in the phrase credential letters

credential

2 of 3

noun

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

3 of 3

verb

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

Synonyms

Noun

• qualification
• expertise
• capability
• ability

Examples of credential in a Sentence

Noun

My experience as a manager is my strongest credential.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Researchers have just confirmed what is also certainly the largest data breach ever, with an almost incredulous 16 billion login credentials, including passwords, exposed. —Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025

With anxiety mounting over the mass automation of entry-level jobs, job seekers with AI skills may now have an edge over those with university credentials. —Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 17 June 2025

Verb

The All England Club might not credential me for even suggesting it, or even thinking about it. —Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 18 Jan. 2025

Candidates — or their committees — can't credential challengers. —Clara Hendrickson, Detroit Free Press, 30 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see credence

Noun

see credence

Verb

see credence

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1860, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for credential

• prudential
• sequential
• tangential
• torrential
• circumferential
• inconsequential
• consequential
• deferential
• evidential
• existential
• exponential
• influential