1
: reliance on the truth or reality of something
gave credit to everything he said
Give no credit to idle rumors.
2
a
: the balance in a person's favor in an account
b
: an amount or sum placed at a person's disposal by a bank
c
: the provision of money, goods, or services with the expectation of future payment
long-term credit
also
: money, goods, or services so provided
They exhausted their credit.
d(1)
: an entry on the right-hand side of an account constituting an addition to a revenue, net worth, or liability account
(2)
: a deduction from an expense or asset account
e
: any one of or the sum of the items entered on the right-hand side of an account
f
: a deduction from an amount otherwise due
3
a
: influence or power derived from enjoying the confidence of another or others
b
: good name : esteem
also
: financial or commercial trustworthiness
4
archaic
: credibility
5
: a source of honor
a credit to the school
6
a
: something that gains or adds to reputation or esteem : honor
He took no credit for his kindly act.
b
: recognition, acknowledgment
quite willing to accept undeserved credit
7
: recognition by name of a person contributing to a performance (such as a film or telecast)
the opening credits
8
a
: recognition by a school or college that a student has fulfilled a requirement leading to a degree
b
: credit hour
earned 15 credits last semester
credited; crediting; credits
1
: to trust in the truth of : believe
find his story hard to credit
2
: to supply goods on credit to
3
archaic
: to bring credit or honor upon
4
a
: to enter upon the credit side of an account
b
: to place an amount to the credit of
credit his account with ten dollars
5
a
: to consider usually favorably as the source, agent, or performer of an action or the possessor of a trait
credits him with an excellent sense of humor
b
: to attribute to some person
They credit the invention to him.
Synonyms
Examples of credit in a Sentence
Noun
banks that extend credit to the public
You need to have a strong credit history and a good job in order to get a mortgage.
A credit of $50 was added to your account.
All the credit must go to the play's talented director.
She's finally getting the credit she deserves.
He shared the credit with his parents.
You've got to give her credit; she knows what she's doing.
Verb
Your payment of $38.50 has been credited to your account.
The bank is crediting your account for the full amount.
They credited the rescue to his quick thinking.
Recent Examples on the Web
Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 6 Apr. 2024
Two days later, Biden claimed credit for pressing Israel to allow the first 20 trucks full of aid to enter Gaza.
—Karen Deyoung, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
Paul, who gained renown as a YouTube celebrity and has only ten fights to his professional credit, was born in 1997, the same year that an over-the-hill-seeming Tyson was disqualified from a title bout for chomping on Evander Holyfield’s ears.
—Ben McGrath, The New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2024
Doubt would have added to Daly’s seven Broadway credits, which stretch back to 1967’s That Summer - That Fall.
—Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024
Many of them are easily verifiable but, as we’re told in the film’s opening credits, some of the real events presented have, of course, been fictionalized to a degree for dramatic purposes.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024
However, these individuals won’t be able to claim any credit for their fortunes—every billionaire on earth under the age of 30 inherited their wealth.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
To her credit, director Stevenson effectively creates a disquieting atmosphere, abetted by an endless series of cheap jump scares.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Apr. 2024
McCrimmon’s portrayal resists the Broadway myth to find mortal radiance instead.
Feldstein, to her credit, was a more adept physical comedian.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Lacey Rose, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Apr. 2024
Edge rusher Jayden Virgin-Morgan and nose tackle Herbert Gums were both credited with one quarterback hurry.
—Ron Counts, Idaho Statesman, 7 Apr. 2024
Qi was credited as an executive producer, according to IMDb.
—Liam Quinn, Peoplemag, 5 Apr. 2024
The $10 will be credited toward a golfer’s greens fee.
—Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
Two Roku inventors are credited on the patent, which is currently pending.
—Kate Irwin, PCMAG, 5 Apr. 2024
It was built in 1928 by the late, legendary, and prolific local builder Michael J. Murphy, who is credited with designing and building nearly 350 buildings in the area between 1902 and 1940.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2024
Site of social events Designed by Indiana architect Francis Costigan — who has also been credited for Louisville’s first site of the American Printing House for the Blind — the abode was built for Charles L. Shrewsbury and his family.
—Lennie Omalza, The Courier-Journal, 4 Apr. 2024
The billionaire owner credited the mayor with continuing to make progress on improving the business climate downtown.
—Meagan Flynn, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
Noun
Moon Pies are cookie-like sweets that the Chattanooga Bakery Inc. gets credit for inventing.
—Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 6 Apr. 2024
Two days later, Biden claimed credit for pressing Israel to allow the first 20 trucks full of aid to enter Gaza.
—Karen Deyoung, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
Paul, who gained renown as a YouTube celebrity and has only ten fights to his professional credit, was born in 1997, the same year that an over-the-hill-seeming Tyson was disqualified from a title bout for chomping on Evander Holyfield’s ears.
—Ben McGrath, The New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2024
Doubt would have added to Daly’s seven Broadway credits, which stretch back to 1967’s That Summer - That Fall.
—Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024
Many of them are easily verifiable but, as we’re told in the film’s opening credits, some of the real events presented have, of course, been fictionalized to a degree for dramatic purposes.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024
However, these individuals won’t be able to claim any credit for their fortunes—every billionaire on earth under the age of 30 inherited their wealth.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
To her credit, director Stevenson effectively creates a disquieting atmosphere, abetted by an endless series of cheap jump scares.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Apr. 2024
McCrimmon’s portrayal resists the Broadway myth to find mortal radiance instead.
Feldstein, to her credit, was a more adept physical comedian.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Verb
Mulaney will serve as host, co-showrunner and executive producer through his Multiple Camera Productions, while Ashley Edens is credited as his co-showrunner and EP and Dave Ferguson is head writer.
—Lacey Rose, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Apr. 2024
Edge rusher Jayden Virgin-Morgan and nose tackle Herbert Gums were both credited with one quarterback hurry.
—Ron Counts, Idaho Statesman, 7 Apr. 2024
Qi was credited as an executive producer, according to IMDb.
—Liam Quinn, Peoplemag, 5 Apr. 2024
The $10 will be credited toward a golfer’s greens fee.
—Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2024
Two Roku inventors are credited on the patent, which is currently pending.
—Kate Irwin, PCMAG, 5 Apr. 2024
It was built in 1928 by the late, legendary, and prolific local builder Michael J. Murphy, who is credited with designing and building nearly 350 buildings in the area between 1902 and 1940.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2024
Site of social events Designed by Indiana architect Francis Costigan — who has also been credited for Louisville’s first site of the American Printing House for the Blind — the abode was built for Charles L. Shrewsbury and his family.
—Lennie Omalza, The Courier-Journal, 4 Apr. 2024
The billionaire owner credited the mayor with continuing to make progress on improving the business climate downtown.
—Meagan Flynn, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'credit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near credit
Cite this Entry
“Credit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/credit. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
credit
1 of 2 noun
cred·it
ˈkred-ət 
1
: a balance in an account in a person's favor
debits and credits
2
: an amount or sum that a bank or company will let a person use
3
a
: trust given to a customer for future payment for goods purchased
extended them credit
buy on credit
b
: reputation for paying one's bills
check on a person's credit
c
: the providing of money or goods with the expectation of payment in the future
long-term credit
also
: money or goods so provided
used up their credit
5
: reputation for honesty or integrity : good name
6
: a source of honor
a credit to her school
7
: something that adds to a person's reputation or honor
got credit for the discovery
8
a
: official certification of the completion of a course of study
b
: a unit of academic work for which such certification is made
credit
2 of 2 verb1
2
: to enter a sum on the credit side of
we'll credit your account with $10
3
a
: to think of as the source or performer of an action or having a quality
they credit you with quite a sense of humor
b
: to give the credit for to somebody or something
credited the rescue to her quick thinking
Etymology
Noun
from early French credit "reputation, permission to buy without paying immediately," from early Italian credito (same meaning), from Latin creditum "loan," derived from credere "to believe, trust, entrust" — related to credentials, creed, incredible
Legal Definition
credit
1 of 2 noun
cred·it
1
: recognition see also full faith and credit
2
a
: the balance in an account which may be drawn upon and repaid later compare loan
b
: the use of resources (as money) in the present obtained by the debtor's promise to repay the creditor in the future usually with interest as compensation to the creditor and often secured by a pledge of property or the right to attach the debtor's income in case of a failure to repay see also consumer credit compare debt
c
: financial reputation
to borrow money on the credit of the United States—U.S. Constitution art. I
U.S. Constitution art. I
d
3
a
: a deduction from an expense or asset account
b
: a reduction of an amount otherwise due
credit
2 of 2 transitive verb1
: to supply goods on credit to
2
: to trust in the truth of
3
a
: to enter upon the credit side of an account
b
: to place an amount to the credit of
credit his account with ten dollars
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