credence

UK: /ˈkriːd^əns/ US: /ˈkridns/ ,(krēd′ns)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

cre•dence /ˈkridns/   n. [uncountable]

1. belief as to the truth of something:
   to give credence to an advertiser's claims.
2. something that establishes a claim to belief or confidence.

See -cred-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

cre•dence  (krēd′ns), n. 

1. belief as to the truth of something:
   to give credence to a claim.
2. something giving a claim to belief or confidence:
   letter of credence.
3. Religion Also called cre′dence ta′ble, credenza. [Eccles.] a small side table, shelf, or niche for holding articles used in the Eucharist service.
4. Furniture credenza (def. 1).

• Medieval Latin crēdentia. See credent, -ence
• Middle French credence
• Middle English 1300–50

Synonyms

• 1. credit, faith, confidence.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

credence / ˈkriːd^əns/ noun

1. acceptance or belief, esp with regard to the truth of the evidence of others: I cannot give credence to his account
2. something supporting a claim to belief; recommendation; credential (esp in the phrase letters of credence)
3. short for credence table

Etymology: 14th Century: from Medieval Latin crēdentia trust, credit, from Latin crēdere to believe