What does "creed" mean?
That which is believed; accepted doctrine, especially religious doctrine; a particular set of beliefs; any summary of principles or opinions professed or adhered to.
Creed
/kɹiːd/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: That which is believed; accepted doctrine, especially religious doctrine; a particular set of beliefs; any summary of principles or opinions professed or adhered to.
- Grammar: creed is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: credo, affirmance, affirmation, affirmations.
- Useful contrasts: disbelief, disorder, doubt.
- Usage evidence: The laws apply to everyone irrespective of race, creed or color.
How to use "creed"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "creed" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
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Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "creed" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "creed" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
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Final meaning check
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Definitions
Noun
- 1 That which is believed; accepted doctrine, especially religious doctrine; a particular set of beliefs; any summary of principles or opinions professed or adhered to.
"Oh! who young Leila's glance could read / And keep that portion of his creed / Which saith, that woman is but dust, / A soulless toy for tyrant's lust?"
- 2 any system of principles or beliefs wordnet
- 3 A reading or statement of belief that summarizes the faith it represents; a confession of faith for public use, especially one which is brief and comprehensive. specifically
"A creed is a manifesto of religious or spiritual beliefs"
- 4 the written body of teachings of a religious group that are generally accepted by that group wordnet
- 5 The fact of believing; belief, faith. rare
"Oh love! how perfect is thy mystic art, / Strengthening the weak, and trampling on the strong, / How self-deceitful is the sagest part / Of mortals whom thy lure hath led along— / The precipice she stood on was immense, / So was her creed in her own innocence."
Verb
- 1 To believe; to credit. ambitransitive, obsolete
"Only this I marvelled, and other men have since, whenas I, in a ſubject ſo new to this age, and ſo hazardous to pleaſe, concealed not my name, why this author, defending that part which is ſo creeded by the people, would conceal his."
- 2 To provide with a creed. intransitive
"The poor like Priests—Priests utilise the poor; / High Church the common people feeding / Exclaims—"You Low Church indolents observe / How we go about leavening and creeding!""
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname from Old English.
- 2 A male given name.
Antonyms
Example
"The laws apply to everyone irrespective of race, creed or color."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "creed"?
Common synonyms include: credo, affirmance, affirmation, affirmations, allegation, announcement.
How do you use "creed" in a sentence?
The laws apply to everyone irrespective of race, creed or color.
How do you pronounce "creed"?
Pronounced /kɹiːd/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English crede, from Old English crēda, crēdo, from Latin crēdō (“I believe”), from Proto-Italic *krezdō, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱred dʰeh₁- (“to place one's heart, i.e., to trust, believe”), a compound phrase of the oblique case form of *ḱḗr (“heart”). Creed is cognate with Old Irish creitid (“to believe”), Sanskrit श्रद्दधाति (śráddadhāti, “to have faith or faithfulness, to have belief or confidence, believe”).
Etymology 2
From the Old English personal name Creoda.