credibility
gb/kɹˌɛdɪbˈɪlɪti/ us/kɹˌɛdɪbˈɪlɪti/
B2
English
hitelesség, szavahihetőség, hihetőség
NOUN
B2
1
hitelesség
B2
Usage pattern:
the credibility of [something]
Her calm explanation gave the story credibility.
Nyugodt magyarázata hitelességet adott a történetnek.
The report lost credibility after several key errors were found.
A jelentés elvesztette a hitelességét, miután több fontos hibát találtak benne.
They added detailed sources to improve the article’s credibility.
Learner examples
The witness had credibility in court.
A tanú hitelesnek számított a bíróság előtt.
This website has high credibility.
Ennek a weboldalnak nagy a hitelessége.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse credibility (being believed) with credit (money you can borrow).
Meaning
quality of being believable
Collocations
high credibility
|low credibility
|the credibility of the story
|question someone's credibility
|undermine credibility
|damage credibility
|establish credibility
|maintain credibility
|restore credibility
|boost credibility
Synonyms
believability (Focuses on how convincing something sounds.)
|
trustworthiness (Emphasizes being honest and reliable.)
Antonyms
unreliability (Opposite in terms of not being dependable or believable.)
|
implausibility (Opposite in terms of being hard to believe.)
Themes
communication
|media
|daily_life
Definition
how believable or trustworthy something seems
The quality of being trusted and believed to be true or reliable.
NOUN
B2
2
hitelesség
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s credibility (with [someone/group])
He worked hard to rebuild his credibility after the scandal.
Keményen dolgozott azon, hogy a botrány után visszaépítse a hitelességét.
The doctor’s credentials added to her credibility with patients.
Az orvos képesítései növelték a betegek szemében a hitelességét.
Once you lie, your credibility is hard to get back.
Learner examples
She has credibility at work.
Hitelesnek számít a munkahelyén.
He lost credibility with his friends.
Elvesztette a hitelességét a barátai előtt.
Common mistake:
Credibility is uncountable in most uses (not 'a credibility'); say 'some credibility' or 'a credible person'.
Meaning
reputation for being trustworthy
Collocations
personal credibility
|professional credibility
|political credibility
|journalistic credibility
|a loss of credibility
|build credibility
|earn credibility
|retain credibility
|credibility with voters
|credibility with colleagues
Synonyms
reputation (Broader; can be good or bad, not only about being believed.)
|
standing (Often about respect and status within a group.)
Antonyms
disrepute (A state of being widely distrusted or disapproved of.)
|
distrust (The opposite reaction from others toward a person or group.)
Themes
work
|business
|relationships
|politics
Definition
the trust people have in a person or group
A reputation for being honest, competent, and worth believing.
NOUN
C1
3
hitelesség
B2
hihetőség
C1
Usage pattern:
the credibility of [a claim/story/explanation]
The timeline hurt the credibility of his explanation.
Az időrend gyengítette a magyarázata hitelességét.
Several witnesses supported her account, increasing its credibility.
Több tanú is alátámasztotta a beszámolóját, ami növelte annak hitelességét.
The theory has some credibility, but it needs more evidence.
Learner examples
The story has credibility.
A történet hitelesnek tűnik.
His excuse lacks credibility.
A kifogása nem túl hiteles.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse 'credible' where 'plausible' fits better; credibility often implies being believed by others.
Meaning
plausibility of a claim
Collocations
the credibility of the claim
|the credibility of the explanation
|assess credibility
|evaluate credibility
|test credibility
|credibility of an allegation
|credibility of a rumor
|challenge the credibility
|enhance credibility
|lack credibility
Synonyms
plausibility (Focuses on seeming logically possible.)
|
likelihood (More general probability, less about trust.)
Antonyms
absurdity (Extremely hard to take seriously or believe.)
|
improbability (Low likelihood of being true.)
Themes
communication
|law
|daily_life
Definition
how likely a story or claim seems
The degree to which a statement, explanation, or story seems likely to be true.
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
4
hitelesség
B2
Usage pattern:
[an institution]'s credibility (with [the public/audience])
The agency’s credibility suffered after the data was misreported.
Az ügynökség hitelessége sérült, miután tévesen jelentették az adatokat.
The central bank needs credibility to keep inflation expectations stable.
A központi banknak hitelességre van szüksége ahhoz, hogy stabilan tartsa az inflációs várakozásokat.
Repeated reversals damaged the administration’s credibility abroad.
Learner examples
The company wants to improve its credibility.
A cég javítani akar a hitelességén.
The scandal hurt the bank’s credibility.
A botrány ártott a bank hitelességének.
Common mistake:
Not the same as authority; an organization can have power without credibility.
Meaning
public trust in an institution
Collocations
government credibility
|media credibility
|institutional credibility
|international credibility
|public credibility
|credibility crisis
|a blow to credibility
|restore credibility
|credibility with the public
|credibility among allies
Synonyms
legitimacy (Focuses on being seen as rightful or valid, not only believable.)
|
public confidence (Emphasizes the public’s feeling of trust.)
Antonyms
illegitimacy (Being seen as not valid or not rightful.)
|
public distrust (A broad lack of trust from the public.)
Themes
politics
|business
|media
|society
Definition
how much people trust an organization
Public confidence that an organization, institution, or authority is reliable, truthful, and competent.
NOUN
B2
5
hitelesség
B2
Usage pattern:
the credibility of [a source/website/study]
Students are taught to evaluate the credibility of online sources.
A diákokat arra tanítják, hogy értékeljék az online források hitelességét.
Anonymous posts often have low credibility compared with official statements.
Az anonim bejegyzések hitelessége gyakran alacsonyabb, mint a hivatalos közleményeké.
Peer review can increase the credibility of research findings.
Learner examples
Check the credibility of the website.
Ellenőrizd a weboldal hitelességét.
This source has low credibility.
Ennek a forrásnak alacsony a hitelessége.
Common mistake:
Learners may say 'credible source' correctly, but may incorrectly say 'credibility source' instead of 'source credibility' or 'the credibility of the source'.
Meaning
reliability of a source
Collocations
source credibility
|scientific credibility
|academic credibility
|the credibility of a website
|the credibility of a study
|check credibility
|verify credibility
|judge credibility
|question the credibility
|credible sources
Synonyms
reliability (General dependability; not always tied to being believed.)
|
authoritativeness (Emphasizes expertise and recognized authority.)
Antonyms
dubiousness (Suggests suspicion about truth or quality.)
|
bias (Opposes credibility by suggesting unfair influence on information.)
Themes
education
|media
|technology
Definition
how reliable a source of information is
The extent to which a source of information is considered accurate, unbiased, and dependable.
Grammar
Dictionary form
credibility
IPA
GB/kɹˌɛdɪbˈɪlɪti/
US/kɹˌɛdɪbˈɪlɪti/
Syllables & stress
cred - ib - il - ity (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (il)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: credibility
- Plural: credibilities, credibility
Word family
Forms
credibilities
noun
Related words
credit
noun B1
Negative and opposite forms
Advanced or less common
credence
noun
credulous
adjective
incredulous
adjective
Expressions
credibility crisis
1/kɹˌɛdɪbˈɪlɪti kɹˈaɪsəs/
fixed phrase
formal
serious loss of public trust
a time when people stop trusting someone
Examples
- The CEO faced a credibility crisis after the misleading statements.
- The agency is in a credibility crisis following the report’s findings.
- A credibility crisis can make it hard to communicate even true information.
Learner examples
- The company is in a credibility crisis.
credibility gap
1/kɹˌɛdɪbˈɪlɪti ɡˈæp/
fixed phrase
formal
difference between claims and reality
when people don’t believe official statements
Examples
- A credibility gap opened up between the minister’s promises and the results.
- The company faced a credibility gap after repeated delays.
- Polling showed a growing credibility gap on the issue.
Learner examples
- There is a credibility gap between what they say and what happens.
gain credibility
1/ɡˈeɪn kɹˌɛdɪbˈɪlɪti/
fixed phrase
become more trusted
to be trusted more
Examples
- The idea gained credibility after new studies supported it.
- She gained credibility with the team by delivering on her promises.
- The startup gained credibility when a major investor backed it.
Learner examples
- He gained credibility through hard work.
lend credibility to
1/lˈɛnd kɹˌɛdɪbˈɪlɪti tə/
fixed phrase
make something seem believable
to make something easier to believe
Examples
- The photographs lend credibility to her account of the events.
- His experience as a pilot lends credibility to his safety concerns.
- Independent audits lend credibility to the company’s claims.
Learner examples
- The data lends credibility to the report.
lose credibility
1/lˈuz kɹˌɛdɪbˈɪlɪti/
fixed phrase
stop being trusted
to be trusted less
Examples
- The witness lost credibility when he changed his story.
- If you exaggerate, you’ll lose credibility with your audience.
- The newspaper lost credibility after publishing false information.
Learner examples
- He lost credibility after he lied.
street credibility
1/stɹˈit kɹˌɛdɪbˈɪlɪti/
fixed phrase
informal
respect in a tough community
respect from people on the street
Examples
- The actor gained street credibility after starring in the indie film.
- He talks tough, but he has no street credibility.
- The brand tried to build street credibility by sponsoring local artists.
Learner examples
- He has street credibility in his neighborhood.