creed

noun

ˈkrēd 

1

: a brief authoritative formula of religious belief

the Nicene Creed

2

: a set of fundamental beliefs

also : a guiding principle

Never settle for mediocrity is his creed.

—Jill Lieber

creedal adjective

or credal

ˈkrē-dᵊl 

Synonyms

• credo
• doctrine
• dogma
• gospel
• ideology
• idealogy
• philosophy
• testament

Examples of creed in a Sentence

central to the creed of this organization of medical volunteers is the belief that health care is a basic human right

the Amish live by a strict creed that rejects many of the values and practices of modern society

Recent Examples on the Web

But envisioning those creeds stenciled into the end zones moves me to imagine a different kind of Super Bowl that might be played tomorrow. —Scott Simon, NPR, 8 Feb. 2025

Indeed, perhaps the only thing that binds people of all races, creeds, and colors together is the universal insistence that the end is nigh. —George Pendle, airmail.news, 8 Feb. 2025

While most of your time is spent exploring the Caribbean's islands on your ship and partaking in naval warfare, Black Flag still manages to explore the titular creed and how Edward Kenway relates to or opposes it. —John Mac Ghlionn, Newsweek, 13 Jan. 2025

This nation of nearly 1.5 billion was shedding its old secular creed and, despite the fact that 200 million of its citizens are Muslim, being reborn as a land of Hindu-nationalist ideals. —Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English crede, from Old English crēda, from Latin credo (first word of the Apostles' and Nicene Creeds), from credere to believe, trust, entrust; akin to Old Irish cretid he believes, Sanskrit śrad-dadhāti

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

creed

noun

ˈkrēd 

1

: a statement of the basic beliefs of a religious faith

2

: a set of guiding principles or beliefs

Etymology

Middle English crede "creed," from Old English crēda (same meaning), from Latin credo, literally, "I believe" (used as the first words in many creeds), from credere "to believe, trust, entrust" — related to credentials, credit, incredible