Credibility - Dictionary Definition and Overview

Credibility :  (noun)

1: the quality of being believable or trustworthy [syn: credibleness, believability] [ant: incredibility]

Based on WordNet 2.0

Credibility : \Cred`i*bil"i*ty\ (kr[e^]d`[i^]*b[i^]l"[i^]*t[y^]), n. [Cf. F. cr['e]dibilit['e].] The quality of being credible; credibleness; as, the credibility of facts; the credibility of witnesses.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

CREDIBILITY. Worthiness of belief. To entitle a witness to credibility, he must be competent. Vide Competency. 2. Human testimony can seldom acquire the certainty of demonstration. Witnesses not unfrequently are mistaken or wish to deceive; the most that can be expected is that moral certainty which arises from analogy. The Credibility : which is attached to such testimony, arises. from the double presumption that the witnesses have good sense and intelligence, and that they are not mistaken nor deceived; they are further presumed to have probity, and that they do not wish to deceive. 3. To gain credibility, we must be assured, first, that the witness has not been mistaken nor deceived. To be assured as far as possible on this subject, it is proper to consider the nature and quality of the facts proved; the quality and person of the witness; the testimony in itself; and to compare it with the depositions of other witnesses on the subject, and with known facts. Secondly, we must be satisfied that he does not wish to deceive: there are strong assurances of this, when the witness is under oath, is a man of integrity, and disinterested. Vide Arch. Civ. Pl. 444; 5 Com. Dig. 449; 8 Watts, R. 227; Competency.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Example Usage of Credibility

guywwallace: Just "showing up" every time does not earn you much Credibility with everyone else at the table, but it's a start.
SmartMonee: A POWERFUL BRAND: With (?) Network/You'll Have Instant Credibility/Name Recognition & Mass Appeal. GoTrump http://budurl.com/kz5q
Meryl333: .@mediagonebad If Obama says he's going to the store to buy you a sandwich and gets mugged on the way, is it a Credibility issue?
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