credible
KREH-duhbl
Credible (adj) means Able to be believed; convincing. Example: “The alibi seemed credible until the timeline was checked.”
adj
1
Able to be believed; convincing.
"The alibi seemed credible until the timeline was checked."
"They need a credible plan before investors will commit any money."
"Her explanation for being late was not very credible, given the clear weather."
2
Trustworthy or reliable.
"She is a credible source within the industry."
"Journalists prefer to quote credible witnesses who have no reason to lie."
"A credible review site checks every product before it publishes a score."
How to use credible
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBelievable, or worthy of trust.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "creditable" (deserving praise) or "credulous" (too easily believing things).
Easily confused with
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like credible.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- more credible
- Superlative
- most credible
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The alibi seemed _____ until the timeline was checked.
Etymology
From Latin credibilis, "worthy of belief", from credere, "to believe" — the same root behind "credit" and "credence".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for credible
See all rhymes for credible →Frequently asked questions
What does “credible” mean?
The word “credible” means able to be believed; convincing. In plain terms, believable, or worthy of trust.
How do you pronounce “credible”?
“Credible” is pronounced KREH-duhbl (/ˈkɹɛdəbl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “credible” in a sentence?
Here is “credible” used in a sentence: “The alibi seemed credible until the timeline was checked.”
What is the opposite of “credible”?
The opposite of “credible” — its antonyms — are incredible, noncredible and uncredible.
What part of speech is “credible”?
“Credible” is an adjective.
Where does the word “credible” come from?
The word “credible” comes from Latin. From Latin credibilis, "worthy of belief", from credere, "to believe" — the same root behind "credit" and "credence".
Is “credible” a common word?
“Credible” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “credible” have?
“Credible” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: able to be believed; convincing.
What is the difference between credible and credulous?
Credible describes something or someone that is believable or trustworthy, such as a credible witness or a credible explanation. Credulous describes a person who is too willing to believe things, often without sufficient evidence, and the two words are frequently confused despite having nearly opposite implications.
What is the difference between credible and incredible?
Credible means believable or trustworthy, while incredible means the opposite, not believable, though in casual modern usage "incredible" is often used loosely to mean impressively good rather than literally unbelievable. In formal writing, the two remain direct opposites.
