commendation or approval, as for an act or quality: she was given credit for her work a person or thing serving as a source of good influence, repute, ability, etc: a credit to the team influence or reputation coming from the approval or good opinion of others: he acquired credit within the community belief in the truth, reliability, quality, etc, of someone or something: I would give credit to that philosophy a sum of money or equivalent purchasing power, as at a shop, available for a person's use the positive balance in a person's bank account the sum of money that a bank makes available to a client in excess of any deposit the practice of permitting a buyer to receive goods or services before payment the time permitted for paying for such goods or services reputation for solvency and commercial or financial probity, inducing confidence among creditors acknowledgment of an income, liability, or capital item by entry on the right-hand side of an account the right-hand side of an account an entry on this side the total of such entries (as modifier): credit entries
Comparedebit 1 to award a credit to (a student)
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
cred•it /ˈkrɛdɪt/USA pronunciation
n.
v.
See -cred-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- public praise or commendation given for some action, etc.:[uncountable]He was happy to take all the credit, and none of the blame.
- a source of pride or honor:[countable* usually singular]Those Olympic athletes were a credit to our nation.
- trust;
credibility;
belief:[uncountable]The story of his illness gained credit when he failed to show up at the meeting. - Business[uncountable]
- permission for a customer to have goods or use services that will be paid for at a later date:We have credit with that company.
- one's reputation for paying bills or debts on time:My credit is good.
- Education
- [uncountable] official acceptance of the work of a student in a course of study:received credit for that course.
- [countable] one official unit of such work usually representing attendance at one class per week throughout a semester, quarter, or term:He took fifteen credits in English.
- Business[countable] a sum of money due to a person: Your account shows a credit of $50.
- Business a deposit or sum of money against which a person may draw money:[countable]a credit of $5,000 in savings.
- Business[countable]
- an entry in a business account showing value received:several questionable entries among the credits.
- the right-hand side of an account on which such entries are made(opposed to debit ).
- an entry, or the total shown, on the credit side.
- Show Business credits, [plural] the names of all who contributed to a motion-picture or a television program, usually listed at the end.
v.
-
- [~ + object + with/to + object] to give responsibility for;
ascribe;
attribute:Those herbs were credited with almost supernatural healing powers. - [~ + object + with + object] to believe to be or have:I credited him with more intelligence than that.
- [~ + object + with/to + object] to give responsibility for;
- to believe or trust:[~ + object]Can you credit the governor's press releases?
- Business to enter on the credit side of an account;
give credit for or to:[~ + object + to/with + object]He credited $50 to my account.
- Idioms do someone credit, to be a source of honor for someone. [do + object + ~]Your passing the test under such difficult circumstances does you credit.Also, do credit to someone. [do + ~ + to + object]The hard work and training do credit to your team, win or lose.
- Idioms, Business on credit, [uncountable] by future payment:to buy a sofa on credit with 10% down payment.
- Idioms to one's credit, [uncountable]
- deserving of praise:To his credit he did admit his mistake.
- belonging to one;
having as one's accomplishments:He had thirty published articles to his credit.
See -cred-.
cred•it
(kred′it),USA pronunciation n.
v.t.
cred′it•less, adj.
- commendation or honor given for some action, quality, etc.:Give credit where it is due.
- a source of pride or honor:You are a credit to your school.
- the ascription or acknowledgment of something as due or properly attributable to a person, institution, etc.:She got a screen credit for photography.
- trustworthiness;
credibility:a witness of credit. - Businessconfidence in a purchaser's ability and intention to pay, displayed by entrusting the buyer with goods or services without immediate payment.
- Businessreputation of solvency and probity, entitling a person to be trusted in buying or borrowing:Your credit is good.
- influence or authority resulting from the confidence of others or from one's reputation.
- Businesstime allowed for payment for goods or services obtained on trust:90 days' credit.
- repute;
reputation;
esteem. - Businessa sum of money due to a person;
anything valuable standing on the credit side of an account:He has an outstanding credit of $50. - Education
- official acceptance and recording of the work completed by a student in a particular course of study.
- a credit hour.
- Business[Bookkeeping.]
- an entry of payment or value received on an account.
- the right-hand side of an account on which such entries are made (opposed to debit).
- an entry, or the total shown, on the credit side.
- Businessany deposit or sum of money against which a person may draw.
- Idioms do someone credit, to be a source of honor or distinction for someone. Also, do credit to someone.
- Business on credit, by deferred payment:Everything they have was bought on credit.
- Idioms to one's credit, deserving of praise or recognition;
admirable:It is to his credit that he freely admitted his guilt.
v.t.
- to believe;
put confidence in;
trust;
have faith in. - to bring honor, esteem, etc., to;
reflect well upon. - Business[Bookkeeping.]to enter upon the credit side of an account;
give credit for or to. - Educationto award educational credits to (often fol. by with):They credited me with three hours in history.
- credit to or with, to ascribe to a (thing, person, etc.):In former times many herbs were credited with healing powers.
- Latin crēditum loan, noun, nominal use of neuter of crēditus, past participle of crēdere to believe, confide, entrust, give credit
- Old Italian credito
- Middle French
- 1535–45
- 4.See corresponding entry in Unabridged –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.
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