Credit Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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credit

[ˈkrɛdɪt ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

financial

An arrangement for deferred payment of a loan or purchase.

Synonyms

finance, loan, trust.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
credit

Can also mean a source of pride or honor.

  • The team's victory is a credit to their hard work and dedication.
loan

Use when referring to a sum of money that is expected to be paid back with interest.

  • She took out a loan to pay for her college tuition.
  • The bank approved their loan application for the new house.
finance

Appropriate when talking about the management of large sums of money, especially by governments or large companies.

  • He works in finance as an investment banker.
  • The company's finance department handles all the monetary transactions.
trust

Use when referring to reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, or character of a person or thing.

  • I trust my friend to keep my secrets.
  • The investors had a high level of trust in the new CEO.

Examples of usage

  • Apply for a credit card to build your credit history.
  • She used credit to buy a new car.
Context #2 | Noun

education

Recognition of a student's completion of a course or program.

Synonyms

acknowledgment, recognition, validation.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
credit

Used when referring to giving someone financial resources or recognizing their role or contribution, often in a formal setting.

  • She received credit for her innovative project.
  • He offered me store credit after the return.
recognition

Appropriate when you need to express formal appreciation or honor someone for their achievements or contributions.

  • She received public recognition for her volunteer work.
  • His years of service earned him recognition from the company.
acknowledgment

Suitable for situations where you mention someone's effort or contribution but not necessarily in a formal or official manner.

  • I would like to give an acknowledgment to my team for their hard work.
  • In the book's introduction, there's an acknowledgment of all who helped.
validation

Used when verifying or proving the truth of something, often in contexts involving feelings, experiences, or data.

  • Her feelings were in need of validation.
  • The experiment's results require validation through further testing.

Examples of usage

  • She received credit for the advanced placement exam.
  • He earned extra credit by doing a research project.
Context #3 | Verb

financial

To add money to an account.

Synonyms

acknowledge, add, deposit.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
credit

Typically this implies noting someone's contribution or financial transactions positively, similar context as the first 'credit'.

  • Use already provided in first 'credit'
add

This is used when you want to include something extra or more, generally without any specific formal recognition.

  • Please add your comments at the end of the document
  • She added more details to the story
deposit

This word is used when you want to put money into a bank account or to place something somewhere for safekeeping.

  • He made a deposit of $500 into his savings account
  • I need to deposit my valuables in the locker
acknowledge

Use this to recognize someone's effort or existence in a formal or informal manner.

  • We would like to acknowledge Mary's hard work on the project
  • The company acknowledged his grievance

Examples of usage

  • I will credit your account with the refund.
  • The bank credited my savings account with interest.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Economics

  • Credit is essential for personal finance, allowing people to make large purchases and pay them over time.
  • A credit score rates a person's reliability in repaying borrowed money, reflecting their financial health.
  • Businesses rely on credit to invest in growth, covering costs before revenue comes in.

Pop Culture

  • Many movies use 'credit' in their storyline, often showing the importance of borrowing and trust.
  • The phrase 'building credit' is common on social media, reflecting how people manage their finances.
  • Songs about financial struggles often mention credit as a factor in life challenges.

Psychology

  • People's perception of credit can influence their spending habits, leading to potential debt.
  • Studies show that those educated about credit management make better financial choices and feel less anxiety.
  • Social factors, like peer pressure, can affect how individuals view and use credit.

History

  • The concept of credit has existed for thousands of years, with ancient Mesopotamians using loans for agricultural purposes.
  • In medieval Europe, credit systems emerged with merchant networks, facilitating long-distance trade.
  • The establishment of credit bureaus in the late 19th century marked the formal recognition of creditworthiness in lending.

Origin of 'credit'

Main points about word origin

  • The word comes from the Latin 'creditum', meaning 'a loan' or 'something entrusted'.
  • It entered the English language in the 15th century related to trust and belief.
  • The modern concept expanded thanks to banking systems that developed in the Middle Ages.

The word 'credit' originated from the Latin word 'creditum', meaning 'a loan'. The concept of credit has been around for centuries, with ancient civilizations using credit systems to facilitate trade. Over time, the meaning of credit has evolved to include financial trust and recognition of achievement. In modern times, credit plays a crucial role in the economy, enabling individuals and businesses to access funds and make purchases based on trust and promise of repayment.


Word Frequency Rank

At #842 in the frequency ranking, this word is highly important for effective communication. It's commonly used in daily situations and should be prioritized in your vocabulary building.