credence

American  

[kreed-ns] / ˈkrid ns /

noun

1. belief as to the truth of something.

   to give credence to a claim.

   Synonyms:

   confidence, faith, credit

2. something giving a claim to belief or confidence.

   letter of credence.

3. Also called credenza.  Also called credence table,.  Ecclesiastical. a small side table, shelf, or niche for holding articles used in the Eucharist service.

4. Furniture. credenza.

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credence British  

/ ˈkriːdəns /

noun

1. acceptance or belief, esp with regard to the truth of the evidence of others

   I cannot give credence to his account

2. something supporting a claim to belief; recommendation; credential (esp in the phrase letters of credence )

3. short for credence table

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Other Word Forms

• noncredence noun

Etymology

Origin of credence

1300–50; Middle English < Middle French credence < Medieval Latin crēdentia. See credent, -ence

Example Sentences

“The latest figures suggest firms are successfully doing more with less labor, giving more credence to a jobless expansion,” writes Matthew Martin, senior economist at Oxford Economics.

From Barron's

Eight consecutive quarters of positive same-store sales growth at the namesake Gap brand and Old Navy alike give credence to the argument that CEO Richard Dickson’s playbook is working, Sole said.

From Barron's

“The latest figures suggest firms are successfully doing more with less labor, giving more credence to a jobless expansion,” writes Matthew Martin, senior economist at Oxford Economics.

From Barron's

“I would worry about something like that, and I’d worry about a bunch of these theories that she has getting wider credence in society,” Lurie said.

From Salon

While terms of the deal weren’t made clear, the report lends credence to whispers of a possible sale that have followed the company for some time.

From Barron's