ENGLISH
REFERENCE

credentials

n. C / U
B2 Upper Intermediate US //kɹəˈdɛnʃəɫz// UK //kɹɪdˈɛnʃəlz// cre·den·tials

n. the information you use to prove who you are, like a username and password. You use these to get access to a computer system or a private area.

n. the qualities, experience, or documentation that prove a person's identity or suitability for a task. In a digital context, refers to the specific data used to authenticate a user.


SIMPLE

Please enter your credentials to log in to the server.

CONTEXTUAL

The system administrator reminded everyone to update their credentials regularly to prevent unauthorized access to the database.

COMPLEX

While his academic credentials were unimpeachable, the hiring committee was more concerned with his lack of practical experience in high-security network environments.

Synonyms
Usage

Almost always used in the plural form; the singular 'credential' is rare and typically refers to a specific certificate or document.

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