faith
C1Formal, but also used widely in neutral and informal contexts, particularly in religious and personal discourse.
Definition
Meaning
Complete trust, confidence, or belief in someone or something, especially without evidence or proof.
Refers to a specific system of religious belief (e.g., the Christian faith); loyalty or fidelity to a person or promise; a deeply held conviction.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies belief despite doubt or lack of evidence. In a religious context, it is central and positive. In secular contexts, it can imply trust based on past performance or inherent goodness.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. 'Keep faith with' is slightly more common in formal British English.
Connotations
In both dialects, religious connotations are primary. In secular UK contexts, it may be used more cautiously than in the US, where 'faith-based' is a common collocation in public discourse.
Frequency
Comparably high frequency in both dialects, with significant use in religious, personal, and political contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have faith in [someone/something]keep faith with [someone/something]put/place one's faith in [someone/something]in good faithact of faithVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “leap of faith”
- “bad faith”
- “in good faith”
- “keep the faith”
- “on faith”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'We negotiated the deal in good faith.' Refers to honest intention without intent to deceive.
Academic
In sociology, 'faith' is analysed as a social construct and a source of community cohesion.
Everyday
'I have faith in you to get the job done.' Expresses trust in a person's abilities.
Technical
In law, 'good faith' is a principle requiring honest, lawful conduct in contractual dealings.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- (Rarely used as a verb; archaic) To have faith; to believe.
American English
- (Not in standard use) Occasionally used in AAVE: 'I faith you'll do right.'
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form; 'faithfully' is used, but means 'loyally').
American English
- (No standard adverbial form).
adjective
British English
- 'He is a faith healer.' (Describes a type) 'She comes from a faith background.'
American English
- 'Faith-based initiatives received funding.' 'It was a real faith moment for us.'
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I have faith in my teacher.
- Her faith helps her.
- He never lost faith in his team's ability to win.
- They signed the contract in good faith.
- Despite the setbacks, her abiding faith in the project's goals never wavered.
- The community is built on shared faith and mutual respect.
- His actions were not in good faith, deliberately undermining the agreement.
- The politician's speech was an attempt to restore public faith in the institution.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
FAITH: Feeling Assurance In The Heart.
Conceptual Metaphor
FAITH IS A JOURNEY (e.g., 'faith journey'), AN OBJECT (e.g., 'keep faith', 'lose faith'), A CONTAINER (e.g., 'full of faith'), or A BOND (e.g., 'bond of faith').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of Russian 'вера' in all contexts. English 'faith' is more abstract and often more strongly religious than the general 'belief' ('убеждение', 'мнение'). 'Keep faith with' has no direct Russian equivalent and implies maintaining loyalty.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'faith' as a countable noun incorrectly: 'He has many faiths' (incorrect) vs. 'He has strong faith' (correct). In religious plural contexts, use 'faiths' correctly: 'The conference respected all faiths.'
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase means 'to do something trusting in a positive outcome without guarantees'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its primary connotation is religious, it is commonly used in secular contexts to mean 'trust' or 'confidence,' e.g., 'I have faith in the legal system.'
'Faith' implies a stronger, often more emotional or spiritual belief, sometimes without evidence. 'Trust' is often based on experience, evidence, or reliability and is more commonly used in everyday and business contexts.
Yes, but only when referring to different systems of religious belief, e.g., 'The city is home to many faiths.' It is not used as a plural for an individual's level of belief.
It signifies honest intention to act without fraud, deception, or malice, fulfilling obligations fairly. A contract signed 'in good faith' assumes both parties are honest.
Explore