credence

/ˈkrē-dᵊn(t)s/

Middle English, from Anglo-French or Medieval Latin; Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin credentia, from Latin credent-, credens, present participle of credere to believe, trust

noun

  1. mental acceptance as true or real

  2. credibility

  3. credentials —used in the phrase letters of credence

give credence to gossip

lends credence to the theory

belief faith credence credit mean assent to the truth of something offered for acceptance. belief may or may not imply certitude in the believer. faith almost always implies certitude even where there is no evidence or proof.

noun phrase

  1. a formal document attesting to the power of a diplomatic agent to act for the issuing government —called also letters of credence

idiom

  1. to believe —usually used in negative statements