credibility

noun

cred·​i·​bil·​i·​ty ˌkre-də-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce credibility (audio)
1
: the quality or power of inspiring belief
an account lacking in credibility
2
: capacity for belief
Her account exceeds credibility.

Examples of credibility in a Sentence

The new evidence lends credibility to their theory. The scandal undermined her credibility as an honest politician. In this instance, the lawyer's job is to make the jury doubt the witness's credibility.
Recent Examples on the Web Attorneys for Trump have hammered at the credibility of prosecution witnesses, including Cohen, in recent court filings. Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 8 Apr. 2024 On the other hand, a high number of complaints will hamper your IP’s credibility. Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024 The church is among the few institutions with the credibility to challenge the security policies of the popular president. Mary Beth Sheridan, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024 San Diego County Sheriff's Department Jane's attorneys questioned the credibility of several of the State's experts, including Charles Merritt of the Sheriff's Crime Lab. Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2024 Keynote speeches and conferences: Establish your credibility, generate leads and promote your brand, all through the power of your IP on stage. Kary Oberbrunner, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024 The lawsuit began last year when a Republican operative, Carlton Huffman, alleged that Schlapp groped him without his consent during a political trip to Georgia in October 2022, then said in the suit that Schlapp also defamed him by denying the allegation and attacking his credibility. Patrick Svitek and Isaac Arnsdorf The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 28 Mar. 2024 In a saga that highlighted the perks and perils of partisan talk on air, our television critic argued that the deal risked the network’s credibility and ended up pleasing no one. John Koblin, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024 For a regime that has staked much of its credibility and political future on the war in Ukraine, Putin and his Kremlin allies need to keep the domestic focus on the perfidy of the foes next door. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'credibility.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see credible

First Known Use

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of credibility was in 1594

Dictionary Entries Near credibility

Cite this Entry

“Credibility.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/credibility. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

credibility

noun
cred·​i·​bil·​i·​ty ˌkred-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē How to pronounce credibility (audio)
1
: the quality or power of inspiring belief
a story without much credibility
2
: capacity for belief
an excuse that strained the teacher's credibility
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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