credo
Americannoun
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(often initial capital letter) the Apostles' Creed or the Nicene Creed.
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(often initial capital letter) a musical setting of the creed, usually of the Nicene Creed.
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any creed or formula of belief.
- Synonyms:
- philosophy, tenet, doctrine
noun
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the Apostles' Creed or the Nicene Creed
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a musical setting of the Creed
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of credo
1150–1200; Middle English < Latin: literally, I believe; first word of the Apostles' and Nicene Creeds in Latin
Explanation
Credo is Latin for, literally, "I believe," and originally meant a particular religious belief. Now it has the far broader meaning of any system of principles that guide a person or group. There's often a faintly jokey air to the word as used today, perhaps in recognition that it once popularly held such a high-minded meaning. A hedonist's credo might be simply "party on," or "enjoy the ride;" an actor's "the show must go on." Politicians have credos, and so too, presumably, do rappers and weather forecasters.
Vocabulary lists containing credo
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Believe It or Not: Cred
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cred
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Petitions calling on Obama to tear up NSEERs have also been started by MoveOn.org and DRUM, CREDO, ACLU, Bend the Arc Jewish Action and MomsRising, and have already attracted more than 280,000 signatures.
From The Guardian • Dec. 12, 2016
“I don’t see the lame duck as a make-or-break moment,” said Elijah Zarlin who runs the Keystone campaign for the progressive group CREDO.
From MSNBC • Oct. 24, 2014
Opponents held 280 vigils in 49 states Monday night, according to Becky Bond, political director for the mobile phone company CREDO.
From Washington Post • Feb. 4, 2014
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.