credential

[kri-den-shuh l]

noun

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.

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.

Origin of credential

1425–75; late Middle English credencial < Medieval Latin crēdenti(a) credence + -al¹

Related formsun·cre·den·tialed, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for credentialing

credential

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 Formscredentialed, 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

Word Origin and History for credentialing

credential

"that which entitles to credit," 1756, probably a back-formation from credentials. Earlier in English as an adjective, "confirming, corroborating" (late 15c.). As a verb, "provide with credentials," by 1828 (implied in dredentialed).