faith
7 synonyms and 0 antonyms for faith, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Confidence or trust in someone or something, based on past experience or evidence.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use faith
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French feid, from Latin fidem ("trust"). The silent "th" spelling was added later in English, likely influenced by words like "truth" and "health."
Full origin of faith →Frequently asked questions
What does “faith” mean?
The word “faith” means confidence or trust in someone or something, based on past experience or evidence. In plain terms, trusting someone or something completely, whether it's a person, a religion, or a plan, often without hard proof.
How do you pronounce “faith”?
“Faith” is pronounced fayth (/feɪθ/ in IPA).
How do you use “faith” in a sentence?
Here is “faith” used in a sentence: “She has complete faith in her doctor's judgment.”
What is another word for “faith”?
Words with a similar meaning to “faith” include system of religious belief.
What part of speech is “faith”?
“Faith” is a noun.
Where does the word “faith” come from?
The word “faith” comes from Latin. From Old French feid, from Latin fidem ("trust"). The silent "th" spelling was added later in English, likely influenced by words like "truth" and "health.".
Is “faith” a common word?
“Faith” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “faith” have?
“Faith” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: confidence or trust in someone or something, based on past experience or evidence.
What is the difference between faith and fate?
Faith is trust or confidence you place in someone or something, usually based on experience or evidence. Fate is the idea that events are predetermined by a power beyond your control. Faith is an active choice to believe; fate is an outcome said to be fixed in advance. They sound similar but mean very different things.
What is the difference between faith and belief?
Belief is accepting that something is true. Faith goes further, adding trust and commitment — you not only believe something but rely on it. You can believe a bridge is safe, but faith is walking across it. Faith often implies loyalty and confidence maintained even without complete proof.
Is faith only religious?
No. Although faith is central to religion, the word applies to everyday trust as well — faith in a friend, faith in a plan, or faith in yourself. In this general sense it simply means confidence based on past experience or evidence, without any spiritual meaning at all.
What does it mean to have faith in someone?
Having faith in someone means trusting them to act well or reliably, often before they have proven themselves in a particular situation. It reflects confidence built on their past behaviour or character. To keep faith is to stay loyal to that trust, while to lose faith is to stop believing in them.