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noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Very common

faith

fayth

Faith (noun) means Confidence or trust in someone or something, based on past experience or evidence. Example: “She has complete faith in her doctor's judgment.”

noun
1
Confidence or trust in someone or something, based on past experience or evidence.
"She has complete faith in her doctor's judgment."
"I have faith that the team will turn things around."
2
A strong belief in something without needing proof, especially a religious conviction.
"His faith gave him comfort during the hardest years of his life."
"People of many different faiths attended the memorial."
3
Loyalty to a promise, duty, or commitment.
"He kept faith with his old business partner even after the company failed."

How to use faith

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTrusting someone or something completely, whether it's a person, a religion, or a plan, often without hard proof.

Common mistake

Don't confuse "faith" (belief/trust) with "fate" (destiny) — they sound similar but are unrelated.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
have faith in keep faith act of faith faith healer

Word forms

faiths plural, Faiths plural

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Test yourself on “faith” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She has complete _____ in her doctor's judgment.

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."

Origin: Latin

trust confidence belief conviction reliance credence system of religious belief

Related words

Rhymes for faith

See all rhymes for 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.

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