credential

credential — noun

IPA/krɪˈden.ʃəl/
KK[krɪdˈɛnʃəl]IPA/krɪˈden.ʃəl/
  • credentialsingular
  • credentialsplural

1. the training, experience, or official papers that show you are fit for a job, ro

1.nounC1
Definition

the training, experience, or official papers that show you are fit for a job, role, or responsibility

Example

The college accepted Jamal's nursing credential from Singapore.

pattern: credential from + place

On her CV, Paloma listed every credential needed for the embassy job.

Common collocations
  • professional credentials
  • academic credentials
  • strong credentials
  • show credentials
Synonyms
  • qualification

    broader and common in British English for education, training, or entry requirements

  • certificate

    usually one document from a course or test, not a person's full professional background

  • licence

    a specific legal permit rather than a general record of experience and training

Grammar Patterns

have the credentials for + role

show credentials to + person

Usage Note

Often used in the plural when talking about a person's full background. In the singular, it can mean one document, licence, or other proof.

Common Mistakes

The company asked me to show my qualities before the interview.
The company asked me to show my credentials before the interview.
'qualities' means personal strengths, while 'credentials' means formal proof of training or experience.

2. a username, password, token, or similar data used to prove who a user is or to l

2.nounC1
Definition

a username, password, token, or similar data used to prove who a user is or to let them enter a system

Example

The app stored her login credentials on the old office laptop.

collocation: login credentials

After the data leak, Aarav reset every credential linked to the server.

Common collocations
  • login credentials
  • reset credentials
  • store credentials
  • stolen credential
Synonyms
  • login details

    everyday wording for the information used to sign in

  • authentication data

    more technical and broader than a user-facing login

  • token

    one specific kind of credential rather than the whole set

Grammar Patterns

store credentials in + place

credentials for + system

Usage Note

In everyday tech English, the plural credentials is more common because a username and password often travel together. Singular credential usually refers to one token, key, or login detail.

Common Mistakes

I forgot my credential, so I could not log in.
I forgot my credentials, so I could not log in.
this meaning often refers to a set of login details, such as a username and password.

credential — verb

IPA/krəˈdenʃl/
KK[krɪdˈɛnʃəl]IPA/krəˈdenʃl/

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Credential is a formal word for proof that a person is fit for a role. Qualification is broader: it can mean the training itself, the exam result, or even a condition someone must meet before entering a course or job. Certificate is narrower and usually names one paper awarded after a course or test. Licence goes further than proof of learning, because it is an official permit that legally allows an activity, such as driving or practising medicine. In many professional settings, credentials include several pieces together, such as degrees, certificates, and work history. A hospital may check a surgeon's credentials before hiring, but ask to see a specific licence before allowing surgery.

credential ↗qualification ↗certificate ↗licence ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Verbs

  • check credentials
  • verify credentials
  • store credentials

Phrases

  • professional credentials
  • academic credentials
  • login credentials

Etymology

LatinMedieval LatinEnglish

From a Latin root meaning 'to believe or trust'. In English, the word first referred to something that made a person worthy of belief, then widened to official proof of status or ability, and later to digital information used to prove identity online.

First known use

15th century

15th century, in the meaning defined above Noun