Credibility: Definition, Usage & Key Examples

Meaning 1：trustworthiness (credibility)

credibility 🔊

/ˌkredəˈbɪləti/

The quality of being trusted and believed in, like when someone keeps their promises.

Credibility illustrated: scientist with data, professional with awards, and teacher with student.

trustworthiness 🔊

➕

/ˈtrʌstˌwɜːrðinəs/

The quality of being reliable, believable, and worthy of confidence.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'credibilis' (believable), from 'credere' (to believe).

💡 Mnemonic

Think of a CREDible credit report—its trustworthiness is its CREDibility.

📖 Example

The journalist spent months verifying her sources to ensure her report had credibility. 🔊 The journalist conducted extensive source verification over several months to establish the report's trustworthiness.

🔗 Collocations

gain credibility – To earn trust and acceptance.

credibility gap – A difference between claims and reality that reduces trust.

undermine credibility – To damage or weaken trustworthiness.

🔄 Synonyms

trustworthiness (n.) – The quality of being dependable and reliable.

integrity (n.) – Adherence to moral and ethical principles; honesty.

reliability (n.) – The quality of being consistently good in performance or behavior.

🚫 Antonyms

incredibility (n.) – The quality of being impossible or difficult to believe.

untrustworthiness (n.) – The quality of not being reliable or dependable.

🌱 Derivatives

credible (adj.) – Able to be believed; convincing.

incredible (adj.) – Impossible to believe; or, in informal use, extraordinarily good.

credibly (adv.) – In a believable or convincing manner.

📖 Cultural Story

The word entered English in the 16th century from medieval Latin 'credibilitas'. In modern professional and media contexts, 'credibility' is the cornerstone of reputation, essential for experts, journalists, and institutions.