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definitions

credit

[kred-it]
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR credit ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

verb (used with object)

Verb Phrases

credit to/with, to ascribe to a (thing, person, etc.): In former times many herbs were credited with healing powers.

Idioms

    do someone credit, to be a source of honor or distinction for someone.Also do credit to someone.
    on credit, by deferred payment: Everything they have was bought on credit.
    to one's credit, deserving of praise or recognition; admirable: It is to his credit that he freely admitted his guilt.

Origin of credit

1535–45; < Middle French < Old Italian credito < Latin crēditum loan, noun use of neuter of crēditus, past participle of crēdere to believe, confide, entrust, give credit
Related formscred·it·less, adjectiveo·ver·cred·it, verbpre·cred·it, verb (used with object)su·per·cred·it, nounun·cred·it·ed, adjectivewell-cred·it·ed, adjective

Synonym study

4–7, 9. Credit, repute, reputation, standing refer to one's status in the estimation of a community. Credit refers to business and financial status and the amount of money for which a person will be trusted. Repute is particularly what is reported about someone, the favor in which the person is held, etc.: a man of fine repute among his acquaintances. Reputation is the moral and other character commonly ascribed to someone: of unblemished reputation. Standing is one's position in a community, or rank and condition in life: a man of good standing and education.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for credit

attention, wealth, mortgage, loan, bond, balance, stock, trust, consider, accept, refer, faith, notice, kudos, acknowledgment, commendation, confidence, merit, reliance, credence

Examples from the Web for credit

Contemporary Examples of credit

Historical Examples of credit

British Dictionary definitions for credit

credit

noun

commendation or approval, as for an act or qualityshe was given credit for her work
a person or thing serving as a source of good influence, repute, ability, etca credit to the team
the quality of being believable or trustworthythat statement had credit
influence or reputation coming from the approval or good opinion of othershe acquired credit within the community
belief in the truth, reliability, quality, etc, of someone or somethingI would give credit to that philosophy
a sum of money or equivalent purchasing power, as at a shop, available for a person's use
  1. the positive balance in a person's bank account
  2. the sum of money that a bank makes available to a client in excess of any deposit
  1. the practice of permitting a buyer to receive goods or services before payment
  2. the time permitted for paying for such goods or services
reputation for solvency and commercial or financial probity, inducing confidence among creditors
accounting
  1. acknowledgment of an income, liability, or capital item by entry on the right-hand side of an account
  2. the right-hand side of an account
  3. an entry on this side
  4. the total of such entries
  5. (as modifier)credit entries Compare debit (def. 1)
short for tax credit
education
  1. a distinction awarded to an examination candidate obtaining good marks
  2. a section of an examination syllabus satisfactorily completed, as in higher and professional education
letter of credit an order authorizing a named person to draw money from correspondents of the issuer
on credit with payment to be made at a future date

verb -its, -iting or -ited (tr)

(foll by with) to ascribe (to); give credit (for)they credited him with the discovery
to accept as true; believe
to do credit to
accounting
  1. to enter (an item) as a credit in an account
  2. to acknowledge (a payer) by making such an entryCompare debit (def. 2)
to award a credit to (a student)
See also credits
Derived Formscreditless, adjective

Word Origin for credit

C16: from Old French crédit, from Italian credito, from Latin crēditum loan, from crēdere to believe
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 credit
n.

1520s, from Middle French crédit (15c.) "belief, trust," from Italian credito, from Latin creditum "a loan, thing entrusted to another," from past participle of credere "to trust, entrust, believe" (see credo). The commercial sense was the original one in English (creditor is mid-15c.). Meaning "honor, acknowledgment of merit," is from c.1600. Academic sense of "point for completing a course of study" is 1904. Movie/broadcasting sense is 1914. Credit rating is from 1958; credit union is 1881, American English.

v.

1540s, from credit (n.). Related: Credited; crediting.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
credit in Culture

credit

The ability to obtain goods, money, or services in return for a promise to pay at some later date.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Idioms and Phrases with credit

credit

see do someone proud (credit to); extend credit to; get credit for; give credit where credit is due.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.