credibility gap: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, journalistic, political
Quick answer
What does “credibility gap” mean?
A disparity between what someone says and what is true or real, leading to distrust.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A disparity between what someone says and what is true or real, leading to distrust.
A perceived or actual lack of trustworthiness in the statements, policies, or actions of an institution, government, or individual, often due to misinformation, hypocrisy, or failure to deliver on promises.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major lexical differences. The term originated in American political discourse in the 1960s but is now fully established in British English.
Connotations
Both carry strong negative connotations of institutional failure and public deception. In the UK, it may also be applied to corporate or media contexts.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English due to its political origins, but common in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “credibility gap” in a Sentence
There is a credibility gap between X and Y.The government faces a growing credibility gap on Z.His actions widened the credibility gap.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “credibility gap” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The minister's evasive answers served only to widen the credibility gap.
- The report threatens to further credibility-gap the entire initiative.
American English
- The spokesperson's comments credibility-gapped the administration's position.
- Their failure to deliver is credibility-gapping their brand.
adjective
British English
- The party is plagued by credibility-gap politics.
- We're in a credibility-gap situation with our clients.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used when a company's public statements (e.g., on sustainability) contradict its practices, eroding investor or consumer trust.
Academic
Used in political science, media studies, and sociology to analyze the disconnect between official narratives and public perception.
Everyday
Less common; used to describe a persistent mismatch in a person's or organisation's promises and actions (e.g., 'There's a real credibility gap with our local council.').
Technical
Primarily a term in political communication and public relations, not a technical term in hard sciences.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “credibility gap”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “credibility gap”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “credibility gap”
- Using it for a one-off lie (e.g., 'He told a credibility gap'). It describes a sustained situation.
- Misspelling as 'credability gap'.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'to credibility gap').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. Lying is a deliberate falsehood. A credibility gap is the broader, often accumulated result of lies, half-truths, or broken promises that leads to a systemic lack of trust.
It is most commonly applied to institutions (governments, corporations, media). However, it can be applied to a public figure or individual whose repeated actions contradict their words, creating a public perception of untrustworthiness.
They are very close synonyms. 'Credibility gap' often emphasises the *cause* (the gap between statements and reality). 'Trust deficit' emphasises the *result* (the low level of trust that exists).
Common collocations are 'bridge,' 'narrow,' or 'close' the gap. This is typically done through consistent transparency, accountability, and delivering on promises over time.
A disparity between what someone says and what is true or real, leading to distrust.
Credibility gap is usually formal, journalistic, political in register.
Credibility gap: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkred.əˈbɪl.ə.ti ɡæp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkred.əˈbɪl.ə.t̬i ɡæp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A chasm of distrust”
- “A gulf between words and deeds”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a politician standing on one side of a deep GAP, shouting promises. The public stands on the other side, but the bridge of CREDIBILITY is broken, so the words never truly reach them.
Conceptual Metaphor
TRUST IS A BRIDGE / A SOLID STRUCTURE. A 'gap' is a break or hole in that structure, making passage (of belief) impossible.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'credibility gap' most appropriately used?