credence
C1Formal/educated
Definition
Meaning
Belief in or acceptance of something as true.
A small table or shelf used in Christian churches to hold the elements of the Eucharist before consecration.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used in abstract contexts involving belief, trust, or credibility. Can be concrete in specific religious contexts (credence table).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Both use the same form.
Connotations
Slightly more common in British formal writing; equal in religious contexts.
Frequency
Low frequency in casual speech in both varieties; appears mainly in formal/academic texts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
give/lend credence to [something][something] gains/finds credenceVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “give little credence to”
- “lend credence to the idea”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used when discussing market rumours or analyst reports: 'The CEO's statement gave credence to the merger rumours.'
Academic
Common in philosophy, history, or social sciences: 'Recent findings lend credence to the earlier hypothesis.'
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation; appears in news commentary: 'I give no credence to those online claims.'
Technical
In religious contexts referring to the credence table.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Few people gave credence to his strange story.
- The evidence lent credence to her version of events.
- Historical documents have lent credence to the theory that the settlement was abandoned earlier than thought.
- The scientist's credentials gave immediate credence to her controversial claims.
- The panel afforded little credence to the methodological flaws identified in the study.
- These archaeological discoveries have lent considerable credence to the oral histories of the indigenous community.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CREDENCE' sounding like 'CREDibility + EVIDENCE' – both relate to believing something is true.
Conceptual Metaphor
BELIEF IS AN OBJECT THAT CAN BE GIVEN/LENT/RECEIVED.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'кредо' (creed) or 'доверие' (trust). 'Credence' is more about accepting something as true based on evidence.
- Avoid literal translation of 'give credence' as 'дать доверие' – use 'придавать вес/значение', 'верить'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'credence' as a verb (e.g., 'I credence that' is incorrect).
- Confusing 'credence' with 'credible' or 'credibility'.
- Using without 'to' after give/lend (e.g., 'give credence the theory').
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'credence' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'credence' is only a noun. Do not use it as a verb. The related verb is 'credit' (to believe) or 'accredit'.
'Credence' is more formal and often implies acceptance based on evidence or authority. 'Belief' is more general and personal.
This is unusual. The standard patterns are 'give/lend credence to something' or 'something gains credence'. 'Have faith/belief/confidence in' is more natural.
In Christian church architecture, it is a small table or shelf near the altar where the bread, wine, and water for the Eucharist are placed before consecration.