# faith

/ˈfeɪθ/ (US) · /fˈeɪθ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/faith
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. trust in someone

noun · CEFR B1

a strong feeling of trust or confidence in a person, a plan, or an idea.

For teachers: complete trust or confidence in someone or something, often based on prior experience or character assessment.

- The team had total faith in their captain to lead them to victory.
- Despite the initial setbacks, the investors maintained their faith in the CEO's long-term vision for the company's restructuring.

### 2. religious belief

noun · CEFR B1

a strong belief in a god or a particular religion.

For teachers: strong belief in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual conviction rather than proof.

- Her faith helped her stay positive during the most difficult times of her life.
- The philosopher explored the tension between rational scientific inquiry and the deeply held faith of the local community.

### 3. a specific religion

noun · CEFR B2

a particular religion, such as Christianity, Islam, or Buddhism.

For teachers: a system of religious belief; a specific confession or denomination.

- People of all faiths were invited to the community peace meeting.
- The interfaith council sought to build bridges between the various faiths represented in the metropolitan area.

### 4. loyalty or sincerity

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the quality of being loyal or keeping a promise, especially in the phrase 'in good faith'.

For teachers: fidelity to a person, promise, or duty; sincerity of intention.

- They signed the contract in good faith, believing the project would succeed.
- The negotiators acted in good faith, though it later became clear that the underlying data was fundamentally flawed.

Usage: Commonly used in the fixed legal and professional idiom 'in good faith'.

## Examples

- I have full faith that she will do the right thing.
- After the scandal, the company worked hard to restore the public's faith in its products.
- The philosopher argued that scientific inquiry and religious faith are not mutually exclusive, as they address fundamentally different questions about human existence.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.