C1noun2K

Credibility

UK /["/ˌkredəˈbɪləti/"]/US /["/ˌkredəˈbɪləti/"]/

Definition

the quality that somebody/something has that makes people believe or trust them

In simple words: How much people believe in someone or something.

Examples

The politician's credibility was damaged by the scandal.
Scientific studies add credibility to the new theory.
Maintaining credibility with customers is essential for any business.
The witness's credibility was questioned during the trial.
Credibility in journalism depends on accurate and unbiased reporting.

Usage notes

Used when discussing trustworthiness, often in formal contexts such as academia or journalism. Avoid in casual conversations.

Grammar pattern

credibility + of + noun

Memory hint

Think of 'credit' — if you have good credit, people can trust you.

Collocations

great
high
real
carry
have
be lacking in
suffer
gap
issue
problem
credibility among
credibility as
credibility for

Synonyms

trustworthiness
believability
reliability
validity

Antonyms

untrustworthiness
doubt
suspicion

Common mistakes

Confused with 'creditability' which has a different meaning.
Used as a verb instead of a noun.
Omitting the context, making it unclear what the credibility refers to.