credibility
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
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.
If you go there and mention a player in the same light then you'd better have credibility and an unarguable case.
From BBC • May 23, 2026
JD has logistics credibility, but its push raises questions about how much profit it will sacrifice for relevance in local services.
From Barron's • May 23, 2026
What we are watching with her is someone collecting new credibility with each provocative and unlikely alliance while the actual content of her work continues largely unexamined by the outlets that cover her rise.
From Salon • May 23, 2026
The conditions that have boxed in any rate-cutting agenda are the same ones that could let him prove that credibility.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026
To the consternation of his many political enemies, and certainly Auburn’s guards, Osborne used his charisma and the credibility earned as an “inmate” to put this system into effect.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
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.
