faith

¹

[feyth]

noun

1. confidence or trust in a person or thing.

   faith in another's ability.

2. belief that is not based on proof.

   He had faith that the hypothesis would be substantiated by fact.

3. belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion.

   the firm faith of the Pilgrims.

4. belief in anything, as a code of ethics, standards of merit, etc..

   to be of the same faith with someone concerning honesty.

5. a system of religious belief.

   the Christian faith;

   the Jewish faith.

6. the obligation of loyalty or fidelity to a person, promise, engagement, etc..

   Failure to appear would be breaking faith.

7. the observance of this obligation; fidelity to one's promise, oath, allegiance, etc..

   He was the only one who proved his faith during our recent troubles.

8. Christian Theology.,  the trust in God and in His promises as made through Christ and the Scriptures by which humans are justified or saved.

Faith

²

[feyth]

noun

1. a female given name.

faith

/ feɪθ /

noun

1. strong or unshakeable belief in something, esp without proof or evidence

2. a specific system of religious beliefs

   the Jewish faith

3. Christianity trust in God and in his actions and promises

4. a conviction of the truth of certain doctrines of religion, esp when this is not based on reason

5. complete confidence or trust in a person, remedy, etc

6. any set of firmly held principles or beliefs

7. allegiance or loyalty, as to a person or cause (esp in the phrases keep faith , break faith )

8. insincerity or dishonesty

9. honesty or sincerity, as of intention in business (esp in the phrase in good faith )

interjection

1. archaic,  indeed; really (also in the phrases by my faith , in faith )

Other Word Forms

• multifaith adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of faith¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English feith, from Anglo-French fed, Old French feid, feit, from Latin fidem, accusative of fidēs “trust,” derivative of fīdere “to trust”; confide

Word History and Origins

Origin of faith¹

C12: from Anglo-French feid , from Latin fidēs trust, confidence

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in faith, in truth; indeed.

   In faith, he is a fine lad.

see act of faith; in bad (good) faith; leap of faith; on faith; pin one's hopes (faith) on.

Example Sentences

The advisors argued that Hamas had acted in good faith by returning the live hostages and was working with various interlocutors to find and return the remains of hostages.

Read more on BBC

Since the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, the purpose of federal labor law has been to require employers to bargain in good faith with duly certified unions.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Mr Baker's family said they "never had any faith in this gross misconduct hearing, conducted by the Met Police".

Read more on BBC

Findlay said the early release of prisoners risked undermining public faith around sentencing and he pointed out that in other parts of the UK victims of crime are allowed to attend parole hearings.

Read more on BBC

At the same time, if history has taught audiences anything, they’ve learned they have to be careful about putting faith in these illusionists.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• church 
• conviction 
• denomination 
• doctrine 
• principle 
• religion 
• sect 
• teaching