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
Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Nov. 2024
The project has attached cinematographer Amal Sudhakaran, whose work has appeared on Netflix, Amazon, and Discovery, with one credit gaining Emmy recognition.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 Nov. 2024
Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Nov. 2024
Ben Carson is credited with the project's Housing and Urban Development recommendations.
—Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for credit 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Noun
Specifically, the task force recommends lawmakers introduce bills that achieve these ends:
Some kind of property tax credit for seniors over 65.
—Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Nov. 2024
The project has attached cinematographer Amal Sudhakaran, whose work has appeared on Netflix, Amazon, and Discovery, with one credit gaining Emmy recognition.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 Nov. 2024
Verb
The culture is celebrated for its art, architecture, religion and style—with many crediting Etruscans with the invention of the toga.
—Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Nov. 2024
Ben Carson is credited with the project's Housing and Urban Development recommendations.
—Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for credit
Dictionary Entries Near credit
Cite this Entry
“Credit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/credit. Accessed 1 Dec. 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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