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credential

[ kri-den-shuhl ]
/ krɪˈdɛn ʃəl /
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See synonyms for: credential / credentials on Thesaurus.com
noun
Usually credentials.
  1. evidence of authority, status, rights, entitlement to privileges, or the like, usually in written form: Only those with the proper credentials are admitted.
  2. 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.
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.
to grant credentials to, especially educational and professional ones: She has been credentialed to teach math.
adjective
providing the basis for confidence, belief, credit, etc.
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Origin of credential

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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to credential

authentic, conceivable, convincing, credible, persuasive, plausible, reasonable, satisfying, affidavit, authentication, authorization, certification, coupon, deed, diploma, documentation, guarantee, license, paper, permit

How to use credential in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for credential

credential
/ (krɪˈdɛnʃəl) /
noun
something that entitles a person to confidence, authority, etc
(plural) a letter or certificate giving evidence of the bearer's identity or competence
adjective
entitling one to confidence, authority, etc

Derived forms of credential

credentialed, adjective

Word Origin for credential

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