Discredence

/dɪsˈkredəns/ noun

Definition

Disbelief or lack of credence; the act of refusing to believe or trust something.

Etymology

From dis- (opposite of) + credence (from Latin 'credentia,' meaning belief or faith, from 'credere,' to believe). The prefix negates the idea of giving credit or believing.

Kelly Says

While we use 'incredulity' or 'skepticism' today, 'discredence' is a beautiful old word—it literally means 'un-believing,' showing how medieval English loved creating opposite words with the dis- prefix!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.