Word
credible
Phoneticscred·i·ble, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɹɛdəbəɫ/
UK/kɹˈɛdɪbəl/
Definitions
01believable or plausible
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. easy to believe because it seems likely to be true.
adj. capable of being believed; plausible or convincing in nature.
Español:creíble
“The police didn't find his excuse very credible because the timing was wrong.”
“The witness provided a credible account of the accident, which was later supported by the footage from a nearby security camera.”
Pitfall
His story was very credulous.
His story was very credible.
Use 'credible' for a story that is believable. 'Credulous' describes a person who believes things too easily.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02trustworthy or reliable
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. someone or something that you can trust or depend on.
adj. worthy of confidence; dependable or reliable in a professional or personal capacity.
“You should only get your medical news from credible sources like doctors.”
“Establishing yourself as a credible expert in this field requires years of rigorous research and peer-reviewed publications.”
Usage
Often used to describe sources of information, experts, or witnesses.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “credible” in context.
Verb
01. find the evidence credible
“The jury did not find the evidence credible enough to reach a guilty verdict.”
verb + noun + adj
02. remain credible
“The witness struggled to remain credible under intense cross-examination.”
verb + adj
03. render the story credible
“The inclusion of specific dates and names helped render the story credible to the investigators.”
verb + noun + adj
Adjective
04. credible to the public
“The government's new economic policy was not seen as credible to the public.”
adj + prep
05. hardly credible
“His explanation for the missing funds was hardly credible, given his past behavior.”
adv + adj
06. highly credible
“She is considered a highly credible source within the scientific community.”
adv + adj
Noun
07. credible alternative
“The opposition party has failed to provide a credible alternative to the current budget.”
adj + noun
08. credible threat
“Security forces were alerted after a credible threat was posted on social media.”
adj + noun
Confusables
Credible describes the quality of the information, while credulous describes the gullibility of the person hearing it.
RememberCredible = Believable. Credulous = Gullible.
Real-World Examples
“Reform UK said overnight that police had told Farage not to attend the count due to a “credible threat” against him, which the Press Association understands is not the case.” “Overnight, Reform UK said police had told him not to attend because of a “credible threat” against him, although Essex police contradicted this claim.” “They were acquitted in July 2025 when Justice Maria Carroccia said she did not find EM's evidence "credible or reliable".” “She said they have been open to conversations with the health minister to resolve the dispute but there has been "no credible negotiations offered".” Etymology
From Middle English credible, borrowed from Middle French credible, from Latin crēdibilis (“worthy of belief”), from crēdō (“believe”); see credit.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/credible
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0