Standard Lemma guide

credential

adj · noun · verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /kɹɪˈdɛnʃəl/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: K R IH0 D EH1 N SH AH0 L Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: K R AH0 D EH1 N SH AH0 L Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Pertaining to or serving as an introduction or recommendation (to someone).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

documentary or electronic evidence that a person has certain status or privileges

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: in-plural

Examples

  • May I see your credentials, please?
  • The computer verifies the user's credentials before allowing them to log on.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Evidence of skill or excellence.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

to furnish with credentials

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

a document attesting to the truth of certain stated facts

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: certificate, certification, credentials

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: document, written document, papers

Narrower terms: certificate of incorporation, birth certificate, diploma, sheepskin, commission, military commission, bill of health, registration, teaching certificate, teacher's certificate, probate, probate will

History

Etymology

From Medieval Latin crēdentiālis (“giving authority”), from Latin crēdentia (“trust”).

Across languages

Translations

23 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Albanian: kredencial — pertaining to authority
  • Catalan: credencial — pertaining to authority
  • Portuguese: credencial — pertaining to authority
  • Spanish: credencial — pertaining to authority
  • Bulgarian: препоръки (preporǎki) — document of authority
  • Catalan: credencial — document of authority
  • Chinese Mandarin: 证书 (zhèngshū) — document of authority
  • Czech: pověření — document of authority
  • Finnish: valtakirja — document of authority
  • Finnish: valtuuskirja — document of authority
  • French: accréditation — document of authority
  • German: Berechtigungsnachweis — document of authority
  • German: Zugangsdaten — document of authority
  • German: Beglaubigungsschreiben — document of authority
  • Greek: διαπιστευτήριο (diapisteftírio) — document of authority
  • Greek: πιστοποιητικό (pistopoiitikó) — document of authority
  • Hungarian: jogosítvány — document of authority
  • Japanese: 証明書 (shoumeisho) — document of authority
  • Portuguese: credencial — document of authority
  • Russian: манда́т (mandát) — document of authority
  • Russian: удостовере́ние ли́чности (udostoverénije líčnosti) — document of authority
  • Spanish: credencial — document of authority
  • Vietnamese: giấy chứng nhận — document of authority
Real reading context

credential in complete knowledge articles