credibility
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
- noncredibility noun
Etymology
Origin of credibility
First recorded in 1570–80; from Late Latin crēdibilitās, equivalent to Latin crēdibili(s) credible ( def. ) + -tās -ty 2 ( def. )
Explanation
You have credibility when you seem totally trustworthy or believable. You lose it when you start lying, cheating and acting rather shady. Credibility is a noun that speaks to plausibility or believableness, so the star witness at your trial or the person writing your recommendation letter should certainly have it. Be careful though, because someone with credibility isn't necessarily telling the truth. As any con man or politician can tell you, credibility can easily come from nothing more than a confident smile.
Vocabulary lists containing credibility
Argumentative Writing
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Believe It or Not: Cred
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Argumentative Writing, List 1
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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.
For years, the network has thrived by aligning itself with the emotional and ideological currents of its audience while maintaining just enough institutional credibility to shape those currents in return.
From Salon • Apr. 12, 2026
One senior campaign staffer said they resigned after hearing the seriousness of the allegations, adding that they didn’t want to be put in a position where they were using their own credibility to defend Swalwell.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2026
“Investors are not positioned for a world in which assumptions built over decades — institutional credibility, alliance durability and the limits of political shock — would be tested simultaneously,” Cooper observes.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026
That would include having lots of links in to your website from other trusted websites, linking out to high-quality websites, and having content policies and author biographies to boost credibility.
From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026
Nations, I do not doubt, wish to embrace something of the power and credibility of the heavens.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
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.
