credence

American  

[kreed-ns] / ˈkrid ns /

noun

1. belief as to the truth of something.

   to give credence to a claim.

   Synonyms:

   confidence , faith , credit

2. something giving a claim to belief or confidence.

   letter of credence.

3. Also called credenza.  Also called credence table,.  Ecclesiastical.  a small side table, shelf, or niche for holding articles used in the Eucharist service.

4. Furniture.  credenza.

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credence British  

/ ˈkriːdəns /

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

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Other Word Forms

• noncredence noun

Etymology

Origin of credence

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

Example Sentences

Robinson said the inquiry had not given enough "credence" to that when finalising its report.

From BBC

It is a stupid, futile gesture that only lends credence to the idea that the media is protecting him.

From Salon

Humber has since discovered a mention in an old newspaper of another baseball game played in Hamilton, Ontario, in 1819, also on militia muster day, which he says lends credence to Ford’s remembrances about Beachville.

From The Wall Street Journal

Police had warned Ms Wandelt she faced arrest if she returned to Leicestershire, which Ms Wandelt called a threat on a podcast "in an attempt to give some credence to her claims", the prosecution added.

From BBC

But this week, he finally granted some credence to the dynamic, putting the difficulties of the transition in a different, but connected, context.

From Los Angeles Times