credible
Often confused with credulous
- 1Plausible and likely enough to be accepted as true without further proof.
The detective dismissed the suspect's explanation as barely credible.
Analysts considered the forecast credible given the recent sales figures.
Similarplausible, believable, convincing, likely, reasonable
Oppositeimplausible, unbelievable, unconvincing
Note
The core meaning, and the one the Latin spells out: crēdibilis, "worthy of belief", from crēdō, "believe", the same root that gives credit. It judges the content of a claim, so it pairs naturally with alibi, excuse, explanation and option, as in "the only credible option". A story can be credible even when a liar tells it. Whether the teller deserves trust is the "reliable source" meaning.
- 2Dependable and trustworthy, able to be relied on to be honest and accurate.
Researchers cited only credible journals when building their literature review.
A credible referee can make or break a job application.
Similarreliable, trustworthy, reputable, dependable
Oppositeunreliable, untrustworthy, disreputable
Note
Here the judgment moves from what is said to who says it: credible sources, credible journals, a credible referee. The question is whether someone has earned belief in advance, before any particular claim is weighed. So this meaning attaches to people and institutions rather than to single statements. When a reader asks whether a source is credible, they are really asking whether they can stop checking.
- 3Authentic and convincing enough to persuade those who see or hear it.
The film offered a credible portrait of life in a frontier town.
Reviewers praised the dancer for a credible transformation into the aging king.
Similarconvincing, believable, persuasive, realistic, authentic
Oppositeunconvincing, unbelievable, unrealistic
Note
Performances and portrayals have their own kind of credibility. Credible acting convinces an audience while it lasts, though nobody takes it for literally true. The test is whether the illusion holds, not whether the content is accurate. That separates it from the believable-claim meaning. For a performance, convincing is the closest substitute, and authentic stresses the sense of truthfulness to life.
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Origin
Borrowed through Middle English and Middle French from Latin crēdibilis ("worthy of belief"), which comes from crēdō ("believe"); related to credit.