Credit Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)
Britannica Dictionary definition of CREDIT
1
[noncount]
a
:
money that a bank or business will allow a person to use and then pay back in the future
- banks that extend credit to the public
- Some banks will charge a fee if you go over your credit limit. [=if you spend more money than the bank has agreed to let you use]
◊ If you buy something on credit, you take it and promise to pay for it later.
- Back then, stores allowed their customers to buy food on credit.
b
:
a record of how well you have paid your bills in the past
- How's your credit?
- Do you have good credit? [=have you paid back money you owe, paid your bills when they are due, etc.?]
- You need to have a strong credit history and a good job in order to get a mortgage.
2
[count]
a
:
an amount of money that is added to an account
- A credit of $50 was added to your account.
— opposite debit
b
:
an amount of money that is subtracted from the amount that must be paid
- Families with children in college will receive a tax credit this year. [=the amount that they owe in taxes will be reduced]
3
[noncount]
:
praise or special attention that is given to someone for doing something or for making something happen
- 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.
— often + for
- They were given credit for the discovery.
- He didn't actually write the essay, but he got credit for it.
- You have to give us credit for trying. We did the best we could.
- She never took credit for her achievements.
- Party leaders took/claimed full credit for the country's progress. [=they claimed that they alone caused the country's progress]
◊ If you give credit where credit is due you praise someone who deserves to be praised.
- In receiving this award, I must give credit where credit is due and acknowledge all the people who helped me.
4
[noncount]
:
a good opinion that people have about someone or something
◊ Someone or something that brings credit to you or does you credit causes people to think of you in favorable way.
- She is a talented journalist who has brought credit to the newspaper.
- The fact that administrators fired the offending teacher immediately does the school credit.
◊ Something that is to your credit causes people to have a more favorable opinion of you.
- It's to her credit that she admitted her mistake.
- To his credit, Mr. Smith has offered to pay for the damages.
◊ Something that does you no credit causes people to have a less favorable opinion of you.
- It does them no credit to continue fighting over this issue.
5
[singular]
:
a source of honor or pride for someone or something
— used in the phrase a credit to
- You are a credit to your family and your country.
- He's an excellent athlete and a credit to the sport.
6
credits
[plural]
:
a list of the names of the people who have worked on or performed in a movie, television program, etc.
- the movie's opening/closing credits
- Her name was listed in the credits.
- We always stay to watch the credits.
7
a
:
a unit that measures a student's progress towards earning a degree in a school, college, etc.
[count]
- So far, you've earned a total of 12 credits.
[noncount]
- Our program gives academic credit for working with several social service organizations.
b
[noncount]
:
the amount of points earned for work done on a test, exam, project, etc.
- Students will only receive partial credit for correct answers that are not written as complete sentences.
- To earn full credit [=the total amount of points possible] you must include at least three maps with your project.
- Answer this last question correctly for extra credit.
— sometimes used figuratively.
- They deserve respect for making the event happen, and they get extra credit for doing it in a way that included everyone.
on the credit side
1
chiefly British
:
in the section of a financial record where credits are written
- Enter these amounts on the credit side.
2
— used when mentioning the things that you like about something
- On the credit side, the restaurant offers a wide range of choices.
Britannica Dictionary definition of CREDIT
[+ object]
1
a
:
to add (an amount of money) to a total
- Your payment of $38.50 has been credited to your account.
— opposite deduct
b
:
to add money to (an account)
- The bank is crediting your account for the full amount.
— opposite debit
2
a
:
to give honor or recognition to (someone or something) for doing something or for making something happen
- The team's players all credit their coach [=they say their coach is responsible] for helping them succeed.
— often + with
- She credits her family with her success.
- He was credited with saving their lives.
b
:
to say that (something) is because of someone or something
:
to give credit for (something) to someone or something
- She credits [=_attributes_] her success to her family's support.
- They credited the rescue to his quick thinking.
3
:
to think of (someone) as having a particular quality or effect
— usually used as (be) credited
- She is credited as (being) the first woman to play the sport professionally.
4
chiefly British
:
to believe that (something) is true
- It's hard to credit that anyone would want to buy this old car.