credential

[ kri-den-shuhl ]
See synonyms for: credentialcredentials on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. Usually credentials.

    • evidence of authority, status, rights, entitlement to privileges, or the like, usually in written form: Only those with the proper credentials are admitted.

    • Digital Technology. information that identifies an account and keeps it secure, as username and password: The IT department assigns temporary system credentials to new employees.

  2. anything that provides the basis for confidence, belief, credit, etc.

verb (used with object),cre·den·tialed, cre·den·tial·ing or especially British cre·den·tialled, cre·den·tial·ling.
  1. to grant credentials to, especially educational and professional ones: She has been credentialed to teach math.

adjective
  1. providing the basis for confidence, belief, credit, etc.

Origin of credential

1
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English credencial, from Medieval Latin crēdenti(a);see credence, -al1

Other words from credential

  • un·cre·den·tialed, adjective

Words Nearby credential

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use credential in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for credential

credential

/ (krɪˈdɛnʃəl) /


noun
  1. something that entitles a person to confidence, authority, etc

  2. (plural) a letter or certificate giving evidence of the bearer's identity or competence

adjective
  1. entitling one to confidence, authority, etc

Origin of credential

1
C16: from Medieval Latin crēdentia credit, trust; see credence

Derived forms of credential

  • credentialed, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012