credibility

/,kredi'biliti/ Cách viết khác : (credibleness) /'kredəblnis/

Thân thiện

Definition

Noun: The quality of being capable of being believed; trustworthiness, reliability, or plausibility. It refers to the power of inspiring belief or confidence in someone or something.

Usage

Credibility is an uncountable noun. It describes an abstract quality possessed by a person, organization, statement, or source of information. It is often discussed in contexts like journalism, science, politics, and personal relationships.

Examples

• The scientist's credibility was enhanced by her meticulous research and transparent methodology.
• The newspaper lost much of its credibility after publishing several unverified stories.
• A spokesperson must maintain their credibility with the public to be effective.
• His argument lacked credibility because it was based on outdated data.

Advanced Usage

• Credibility gap: A perceived discrepancy between statements or promises made and the actual reality or outcomes. This term is often used in political contexts.
  • Example: The administration faced a growing credibility gap over its economic forecasts.
• To lend/give credibility to something: To make something seem more believable or trustworthy.
  • Example: The endorsement from a leading expert lent credibility to the new theory.
• To undermine/erode/damage credibility: To weaken trust or belief.
  • Example: The contradictory statements severely undermined the witness's credibility.

Variants and Related Words

• Credible (adjective): Able to be believed; convincing.
  • Example: She is a credible witness.
• Incredible (adjective): 1. Impossible to believe. 2. (Informal) Amazing or extraordinary.
  • Example (1): His excuse was simply incredible.
  • Example (2): We saw an incredible performance.
• Credibly (adverb): In a believable or convincing manner.
  • Example: He argued his case credibly.

Synonyms

• Trustworthiness
• Reliability
• Believability
• Plausibility
• Integrity (in the context of a person's character)

Antonyms

• Incredibility
• Implausibility
• Unreliability
• Doubtfulness

Idioms and Common Phrases

• A question of credibility: When the truthfulness or reliability of something is in doubt.
  • Example: For the jury, it was a question of the defendant's credibility.
• Street credibility (street cred): (Informal) The acceptance and respect of ordinary people in urban communities, especially young people.
  • Example: The politician tried to gain some street credibility by using slang.

Học thuật

Noun

1. the quality of being believable or trustworthy

Từ đồng nghĩa

• credibleness
• believability