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Synonyms

credential

American  
[kri-den-shuhl] / krɪˈdɛn ʃəl /

noun

  1. Usually credentials.

    1. evidence of authority, status, rights, entitlement to privileges, or the like, usually in written form.

      Only those with the proper credentials are admitted.

    2. Digital Technology. information that identifies an account and keeps it secure, as username and password.

      The IT department assigns temporary system credentials to new employees.

  2. anything that provides the basis for confidence, belief, credit, etc.

verb (used with object)

credentialed, credentialing, credentialled, credentialling

  1. to grant credentials to, especially educational and professional ones.

    She has been credentialed to teach math.

adjective

  1. providing the basis for confidence, belief, credit, etc.

credential British  
/ krɪˈdɛnʃəl /

noun

  1. something that entitles a person to confidence, authority, etc

  2. (plural) a letter or certificate giving evidence of the bearer's identity or competence

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. entitling one to confidence, authority, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • credentialed adjective
  • uncredentialed adjective

Etymology

Origin of credential

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English credencial, from Medieval Latin crēdenti(a); credence, -al 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

However, a rousing response from the reigning champions underlined their credentials.

From BBC

After some study, Karan was able to get his credentials reinstated and get back to work.

From The Wall Street Journal

The announcement came only days after officials warned that the details of 1.2 million French bank accounts had been hacked using the credentials of an official.

From Barron's

Their credentials wouldn't look quite so attractive against Carrick's if he did get United back into Europe's elite club competition.

From BBC

Some mocked the executive's attempt to prove her credentials by publicly sharing her Xbox Gamertag, showing how many games she has recently played - 29, but all seemingly in the past month.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.