credulity

American  

[kruh-doo-li-tee, -dyoo-] / krəˈdu lɪ ti, -ˈdyu- /

noun

1. willingness to believe or trust too readily, especially without proper or adequate evidence; gullibility.

---

credulity British  

/ krɪˈdjuːlɪtɪ /

noun

1. disposition to believe something on little evidence; gullibility

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• overcredulity
  noun

Etymology

Origin of credulity

1375–1425; late Middle English credulite < Latin crēdulitās. See credulous, -ity

Explanation

Did you know that if you say credulity ten times fast it starts to sound like orange? If you believe that, then you have a lot of credulity. Credulity means gullibility, or a willingness to believe anything. Credulity is a tendency to believe in things too easily and without evidence. If a swindler is trying to sell you fake medicine, then he is "preying on your credulity." This noun is associated with being naïve, gullible or innocent. It shouldn’t be confused with credibility, which means “believability,” although it is often misused in this way. You might hear someone say, “the farfetched plot of that movie strained credulity,” but what he or she really means is “believability,” or “credibility.”

Related Words

• acceptance
• belief
• confidence
• conviction
• hope
• loyalty
• truth