credibility gap

American  

noun

1. a lack of popular confidence in the truth of the claims or public statements made by the federal government, large corporations, politicians, etc..

   a credibility gap between the public and the power company.

2. a perceived discrepancy between statements and actual performance or behavior.

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credibility gap British  

noun

1. a disparity between claims or statements made and the evident facts of the situation or circumstances to which they relate

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credibility gap Idioms  

1. Distrust of a public statement or position, as in The current credibility gap at City Hall is the result of miscommunication between the mayor's office and the press. This term originated about 1960 in connection with the American public's disinclination to believe government statements about the Vietnam War. It soon was extended to individuals and corporations as well as government agencies to express a lack of confidence in the truth of their statements, or perception of a discrepancy between words and actions.

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Etymology

Origin of credibility gap

An Americanism dating back to 1965–70

Example Sentences

Now, Japan faces a credibility gap as it looks to rejoin the world.

From Washington Post • Sep. 16, 2022

Meanwhile, his daughter has dutifully filled the credibility gap, piggybacking off her father’s not-quite mea culpa by adding that she is “committed to working with the Independent Directors to strengthen our culture and our Company.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 17, 2022

At the International Ice Hockey Federation level, newly elected president Luc Tardif attempted to fix a credibility gap, with the governing body criticized for favoring the men’s game over women.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 18, 2022

That was the big credibility gap for physicians.

From Slate • Jan. 31, 2022

It enshrined his version of the credibility gap in 10 pieces of proposed legislation.

From Salon • Jun. 3, 2020