Illustration of credenza
- credenza 2
credenza
noun
cre·den·za
kri-ˈden-zə 
1
2
: a sideboard, buffet, or bookcase patterned after a Renaissance credence
especially
: one without legs
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
Its inventory includes a vintage lacquered credenza for more than $2,000.
—
Sophia Solano, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2024
Piper recalls one client who didn’t know what to do with a mid-century credenza.
—Jenna Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 23 Feb. 2024
Nicole Dianne Photography In the entry, the dark front door was replaced and a floating credenza and mirror were added.
—Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 25 Oct. 2023
On July 30, the server opened the restaurant for breakfast with a manager who uncovered the credenza on the rooftop portion of the restaurant.
—Cindy Carcamo, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2023
The house welcomes with a turquoise shiplap ceiling and a pair of teal lamps on the credenza.
—Krissa Rossbund, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023
Baldessari’s screenprint Two Sunsets (One With Square Blue Moon) hangs above a vintage woodworking table, discovered at Amsterdam Modern, that serves as a credenza.
—Abigail Stone, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Oct. 2023
In Gill’s entryway, a small stool serves as seating, and shoes either go inside a rolling basket on the floor or get concealed behind the closed doors of a credenza.
—Annie Midori Atherton, Washington Post, 12 Sep. 2023
With three drawers and three cabinets, this console table works for your entryway, as a kitchen credenza, as a bar cabinet, and as a media stand.
—L. Daniela Alvarez, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 July 2023
Sophia Solano, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2024
Piper recalls one client who didn’t know what to do with a mid-century credenza.
—Jenna Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 23 Feb. 2024
Nicole Dianne Photography In the entry, the dark front door was replaced and a floating credenza and mirror were added.
—Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 25 Oct. 2023
On July 30, the server opened the restaurant for breakfast with a manager who uncovered the credenza on the rooftop portion of the restaurant.
—Cindy Carcamo, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2023
The house welcomes with a turquoise shiplap ceiling and a pair of teal lamps on the credenza.
—Krissa Rossbund, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023
Baldessari’s screenprint Two Sunsets (One With Square Blue Moon) hangs above a vintage woodworking table, discovered at Amsterdam Modern, that serves as a credenza.
—Abigail Stone, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Oct. 2023
In Gill’s entryway, a small stool serves as seating, and shoes either go inside a rolling basket on the floor or get concealed behind the closed doors of a credenza.
—Annie Midori Atherton, Washington Post, 12 Sep. 2023
With three drawers and three cabinets, this console table works for your entryway, as a kitchen credenza, as a bar cabinet, and as a media stand.
—L. Daniela Alvarez, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 July 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'credenza.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near credenza
Cite this Entry
“Credenza.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/credenza. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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