article of faith: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, religious, ideological, academic
Quick answer
What does “article of faith” mean?
A firmly held belief or principle, especially one central to a religious or ideological system.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A firmly held belief or principle, especially one central to a religious or ideological system.
Any principle or belief that is accepted as unquestionably true or essential within a particular group, organization, or personal worldview.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage or meaning.
Connotations
Carries the same connotation of unquestionable conviction in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more common in British English due to historical state-church contexts, but widely used in American English.
Grammar
How to Use “article of faith” in a Sentence
It is an article of faith that + clauseX holds Y as an article of faithX has become an article of faith among YVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “article of faith” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- No verbal form.
American English
- No verbal form.
adverb
British English
- No adverbial form.
American English
- No adverbial form.
adjective
British English
- No adjectival form directly. Use 'doctrinal' or 'dogmatic'.
- The article-of-faith nature of the claim made debate impossible.
American English
- No adjectival form directly. Use 'doctrinal' or 'dogmatic'.
- His article-of-faith commitment to the theory was clear.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might describe an unchallenged corporate principle, e.g., 'Customer obsession is an article of faith here.'
Academic
Common in theology, philosophy, sociology, and political science to describe foundational beliefs of systems or movements.
Everyday
Used figuratively to emphasise a strongly held personal or group belief, e.g., 'For him, daily exercise is an article of faith.'
Technical
In religious studies, refers to a specific, formalised point of doctrine.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “article of faith”
- Confusing with 'act of faith' (an action demonstrating faith). Using in overly casual contexts where 'strong belief' would suffice.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its origin is religious, it is frequently used figuratively in secular contexts to describe any deeply held, non-negotiable belief.
An 'article of faith' implies a foundational, often formalised, and unquestioned belief within a system, whereas 'belief' is a more general term for any accepted thought.
Yes, it can be used with gentle irony to describe a trivial but strongly held personal rule, e.g., 'For my grandfather, polishing his shoes every morning was an article of faith.'
The number varies by denomination. For example, the Church of England has 39 Articles, while many churches have creeds (like the Nicene Creed) which serve a similar function.
A firmly held belief or principle, especially one central to a religious or ideological system.
Article of faith is usually formal, religious, ideological, academic in register.
Article of faith: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɑː.tɪ.kəl əv ˈfeɪθ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɑːr.t̬ɪ.kəl əv ˈfeɪθ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Gospel truth”
- “take on faith”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a formal 'ARTICLE' in a legal document listing the core 'FAITHS' of a religion. It's an official, non-negotiable belief.
Conceptual Metaphor
BELIEFS ARE OBJECTS (that can be listed and held); BELIEFS ARE LAWS (formal and binding).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'article of faith' LEAST likely to be used?