credendum: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 / Extremely RareFormal / Academic / Technical (Theology, Philosophy, Law)
Quick answer
What does “credendum” mean?
A thing to be believed.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A thing to be believed; an article of faith.
A principle or doctrine accepted as authoritative, especially in a religious or philosophical system.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is so rare and specialised that regional variation is negligible.
Connotations
Identical connotations of formality and technicality in both regions.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both British and American English, found almost exclusively in scholarly theological or philosophical discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “credendum” in a Sentence
[NP] posits the credendum that...to accept [NP] as a credendumThe credenda of [religious group/philosophy] include...Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in theology, philosophy, and religious studies to denote core beliefs.
Everyday
Never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Used as a precise term in theological or doctrinal writing.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “credendum”
- Using it in a non-formal context.
- Mispronouncing as /kriːˈden.dəm/ (with a long 'e').
- Using it as a countable noun in singular form more than plural ('credenda') in real usage.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an extremely rare, formal word used almost exclusively in academic theology, philosophy, or law.
The plural is 'credenda', following the Latin neuter plural.
Yes, though rare. It can be used metaphorically in philosophy or political theory to denote a foundational principle that must be accepted by a school of thought.
'Credo' means 'I believe' and is a personal statement of belief. 'Credendum' is impersonal and prescriptive, meaning 'a thing to be believed', often imposed by an external authority or system.
A thing to be believed.
Credendum is usually formal / academic / technical (theology, philosophy, law) in register.
Credendum: in British English it is pronounced /krɪˈdɛn.dəm/, and in American English it is pronounced /krəˈdɛn.dəm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms exist for this word.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CREDit' which comes from the same Latin root 'credere' (to believe, to trust). A credendum is something you must give your CREDence to.
Conceptual Metaphor
BELIEFS ARE BUILDING BLOCKS / FOUNDATIONS. (Credenda are the foundational stones of a belief system.)
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'credendum' MOST appropriately used?