credenza

noun

cre·​den·​za kri-ˈden-zə 

1

: credence sense 3

2

: a sideboard, buffet, or bookcase patterned after a Renaissance credence

especially : one without legs

Illustration of credenza

• credenza 2

Did you know?

In Italian credenza means “belief” or “confidence,” and confidence is just what a member of a noble or royal household needed before eating in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Being poisoned by one’s enemies was an ever-present danger. As a result, it was customary for members of royal or noble families to have a servant taste their food and drink after it left the kitchen and before it was served. The tasting was done at a dining room sideboard, and the name of the sideboard became credenza in Italian.

Examples of credenza in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Another trick is to take 4-6 pretty glasses and a decanter and display them together on a tray on a console or credenza. —Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 30 Aug. 2025

It’s built to look like a small apartment with a bedroom, which has a bed, bureau and mirror; living room with a couch, TV and view of outside; and office space with desk, credenza and small TV. —Janice Neumann, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2025

What To Know The Times published several photographs showing a credenza crowded with framed pictures showcasing Epstein's ties to some of the world's most famous figures, including the late Pope John Paul II, Elon Musk and former president Bill Clinton. —Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Aug. 2025

Sofas, credenzas, bar stools, ottomans, rugs, bookshelves, ceramic knickknacks, floor lamps, table lamps, desk lamps - each week, Westen and his crew made their way through a fictional Miami, and each stop had to be furnished. —Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 8 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Italian, literally, belief, confidence, from Medieval Latin credentia

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for credenza

• cadenza
• influenza
• parainfluenza