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

This month, Fermi and the prospective tenant inked a $150 million advance to begin construction in what Neugebauer described as “clearly a sign of good faith in commitment” from the tenant.

Read more on MarketWatch

Historically, a Wall Street firm worried over the creditworthiness of its customers; its customers often took it on faith that the casino would be able to pay off its winners.

Read more on Literature

With both faiths industriously seeking converts, competition and outside engagement is inevitable.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer voted against the measure, saying he could "not in good faith" support a measure "that fails to address the health care crisis."

Read more on Barron's

The effect has been to weaken public faith in authority more widely.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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