Word: credibility (noun)

Associations

Credibility means the quality of being trusted and believed in. It is about whether people think you or something is honest, reliable, or true.

Examples:

• A news article has credibility if it is based on facts and reliable sources. People trust it.
• A person’s credibility can be damaged if they lie or give wrong information.
• A company builds credibility by consistently delivering good products and services.

Synonym: trustworthiness. Difference: Credibility often relates to how believable or convincing something is, especially in information or statements. Trustworthiness is broader and means being reliable and deserving of trust in general.

Substitution

Instead of "credibility," you can say:

• trustworthiness – focuses more on being reliable overall.
• believability – focuses on how easy it is to believe something.
• reliability – focuses on consistency and dependability.

Changing the word can slightly change the meaning. For example, "believability" is more about whether something sounds true, while "credibility" includes reputation and evidence.

Deconstruction

The word "credibility" comes from Latin:

• Root: "cred-" means "to believe" (from "credere").
• Suffix: "-ibility" means "ability or capacity." So, credibility means "the ability to be believed."

Inquiry

Think about these questions:

• When do you think credibility is most important—in news, people, or companies? Why?
• Can something have credibility even if it is not 100% true? How?
• How do you build your own credibility with others?