English Reference
Noun

credential

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /kɹəˈdɛnʃəɫ/ UK /kɹɪdˈɛnʃəl/ cre·den·tial UK spelling credentialed

n.a document or piece of information that proves you have a certain skill, job, or right to be in a place. You use this to show you are who you say you are or that you are qualified for a task.

n.a document or piece of information that serves as proof of a person's identity, qualifications, or authority. Often used in the plural to refer to the set of data required for digital access.


SIMPLE

You need to show your driver's license as a credential.

CONTEXTUAL

The hiring manager asked for her academic credentials to verify that she had completed the required degree.

COMPLEX

In the digital age, managing multiple sets of login credentials across various platforms has become a significant security challenge for both individual users and corporate IT departments.

In technical systems, a credential is data that a system accepts as evidence of identity or authority.

The Conversation· 13 Aug 2026

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

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin crēdentia
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated