What does credible mean?
Credible is an adjective describing something that can reasonably be believed — a statement, explanation, or piece of evidence that is convincing and plausible. It also applies to people, organizations, or even threats that are capable of being taken seriously. A credible witness is one whose testimony holds up under scrutiny; a credible threat is one an adversary must genuinely reckon with. The word is especially common in journalism, law, politics, and science, where questions of reliability are central. Its connotation is measured and evaluative rather than emotional: calling something credible implies it has passed a test of reasonableness. The word traces back to the Latin credere, meaning 'to believe,' which also gives us credit, credentials, and — by way of negation — incredible. Understanding credible is useful because it names a quality we constantly assess in daily life: whether information, sources, and claims deserve our trust.
Able to be believed; convincing or plausible.
"The journalist relied only on credible sources before publishing the story."
Often used attributively before nouns, especially in phrases like 'credible witness,' 'credible evidence,' and 'credible source.'
Capable of being taken seriously; sufficiently real or significant to warrant attention.
"The startup emerged as a credible competitor to the industry giants."
Frequently applied to abstract nouns such as threats, challenges, and alternatives in political and strategic contexts.
Credible and incredible come from the same Latin root meaning 'to believe' — one word for what deserves your trust, and its exact opposite.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of credible
Credible comes from the Latin credibilis, meaning 'worthy of belief,' derived from the verb credere, 'to believe' or 'to trust.' It entered English in the late Middle Ages, with recorded use from around the 14th century. The same Latin root produced a family of English words including credit, credentials, credence, and incredulous, while adding the negative prefix in- yields incredible, its direct antonym.
Related word forms
How credible is actually used
Credible is standard in formal contexts such as journalism, law, politics, and academic writing. It carries a neutral to positive connotation, implying earned rather than assumed believability. It is frequently applied not only to testimony but also to abstract entities like threats, challenges, and alternatives.
Easily confused with credible
Incredible means unbelievable or extraordinary — the opposite of credible — despite the two words sharing the same Latin root.
Credible describes something worthy of belief, while credulous describes a person who is too ready to believe things.