full faith and credit

American  

noun

1. the obligation under Article IV of the U.S. Constitution for each state to recognize the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state.

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Example Sentences

It’s unclear whether other lawmakers will be willing to tie the full faith and credit of the state to an industry that’s still proving itself.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

The best annuity you can get is Social Security, which is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government and which adjusts payments every year to match the official inflation rate.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026

Moody’s said the Aa2 rating on the city’s general obligation bonds is the same as New York City’s issuer rating given the “city’s full faith and credit pledge to pay the bonds.”

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026

The case ultimately reached the Supreme Court, which reaffirmed that states didn’t have an obligation, under the full faith and credit clause, to enforce penal judgments.

From Slate • Feb. 21, 2025

The injunction unquestionably denied full faith and credit and commanded the assent of only five Justices.

From The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation Annotations of Cases Decided by the Supreme Court of the United States to June 30, 1952 by Corwin, Edward Samuel