Belief — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /bə-ˈlēf/ be·lief

Meaning & Definition of Belief

Belief (noun)

  1. a state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing
  2. something that is accepted, considered to be true, or held as an opinion, something believed; especially, a tenet or body of tenets held by a group
  3. conviction of the truth of some statement or the reality of some being or phenomenon especially when based on examination of evidence

Belief (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. mental conviction of the truth of some statement or the reality of some being or phenomenon

    "a belief in UFO's led him to relentlessly scan the nighttime skies"

    similar: credence, credit, faith, article of faith
    related: axiom, law, precept, principle, tenet, assurance, certainty, certitude, conviction, positiveness, sureness, confidence, dependence, reliance, trust, hope, doctrine, dogma, philosophy, dogmatism, fanaticism, insistence
    opposite: disbelief, discredit, doubt, nonbelief, unbelief
    near: distrust, mistrust, skepticism, suspicion, uncertainty

  2. an idea that is believed to be true or valid without positive knowledge

    "it's my belief that the sky is blue because our eyes perceive the color blue easily"

    similar: conviction, eye, feeling, judgment, mind, notion, opinion, persuasion, sentiment, verdict, view
    related: say, impression, perception, take, attitude, assumption, presumption, presupposition, conclusion, decision, determination, deliverance, esteem, estimate, estimation, credence, credit, faith, concept, conception, idea, thought, position, stance, stand, comment, obiter dictum, observation, reflection, remark, conjecture, guess, hunch, hypothesis, surmise, theory, advice, input, recommendation, suggestion, angle, outlook, perspective, shoes, slant, standpoint, viewpoint, counterview
    near: fact, truth

Related Entry: Make-believe (noun)

Make-believe is a different word from Belief. The synonyms below are for make-believe, not for belief.

  1. as in pretense, likeness

    similar: affectation, demonstration, display, fiction, image, imitation, imposture, likeness, pose, pretense, representation, simulation, hint, implication, insinuation, resemblance, suggestion, cloak, disguise, exterior, facade, front, gloss, mask, masquerade, patina, Potemkin village, shape, shell, surface, veneer, air, effect, impression, appearance, face, guise, name, outward, seeming, semblance, show

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Belief

The most common words with a similar meaning to Belief:

credence, credit, faith, conviction, eye, feeling, judgment, mind, notion, opinion, persuasion, sentiment, verdict, view, article of faith

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Belief

Words with the opposite meaning of Belief:

disbelief, discredit, doubt, nonbelief, unbelief

Related Words for Belief

axiom, law, precept, principle, tenet, assurance, certainty, certitude, positiveness, sureness, confidence, dependence, reliance, trust, hope, doctrine, dogma, philosophy, dogmatism, fanaticism, insistence, say, impression, perception, take, attitude, assumption, presumption, presupposition, conclusion

Near Antonyms of Belief

distrust, mistrust, skepticism, suspicion, uncertainty, fact, truth

Origin & Etymology of Belief

Middle English beleave, probably alteration of Old English gelēafa, from ge-, associative prefix + lēafa; akin to Old English lȳfan believe

First known use: 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Belief

Words & Phrases Containing Belief

a growing belief that, beggar belief, beyond belief, contrary to popular belief, defy belief, in the belief that, in the mistaken/erroneous belief that, to the best of one's belief, worthy of belief

Frequently Asked Questions about Belief

What does "Belief" mean?

"Belief" means a state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing. As a noun, it is defined as: a state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Belief"?

Other words for "Belief" include credence, credit, faith, conviction, eye, feeling, judgment and mind. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Belief" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Belief"?

There are 81 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Belief". Common alternatives include credence, credit, faith, conviction, eye, feeling, judgment, mind, notion and opinion.

What is the opposite of "Belief"?

Antonyms of "Belief" include disbelief, discredit, doubt, nonbelief and unbelief. Near antonyms include distrust, mistrust, skepticism and suspicion.

How do you use "Belief" in a sentence?

Examples of "Belief" in a sentence: "a belief in UFO's led him to relentlessly scan the nighttime skies"; "it's my belief that the sky is blue because our eyes perceive the color blue easily".

Is "Belief" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Belief" is a noun.

Is "Belief" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Belief" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Belief"?

"Belief" is pronounced /bə-ˈlēf/ and divided into syllables as be·lief.