If you have faithin someone or something, you feel confident about their ability or goodness.
She had placed a great deal of faith in Mr Penleigh. [+ in]
People have lost faith in the British Parliament. [+ in]
Synonyms: confidence, trust, credit, conviction More Synonyms of faith
2. countable noun [usually adjective NOUN]
A faith is a particular religion, for example Christianity, Buddhism, or Islam.
He established a reputation as a steadfast defender of the Catholic faith.
3. uncountable noun
Faith is strong religious belief in a particular God.
Umberto Eco's loss of his own religious faith is reflected in his novels.
4.
See break faith with
5.
See in good faith
6.
See keep faith with
7. See also article of faith, leap of faith
More Synonyms of faith
faith in British English
(feɪθ)
noun
1.
strong or unshakeable belief in something, esp without proof or evidence
2.
a specific system of religious beliefs
the Jewish faith
3. Christianity
trust in God and in his actions and promises
4.
a conviction of the truth of certain doctrines of religion, esp when this is not based on reason
5.
complete confidence or trust in a person, remedy, etc
6.
any set of firmly held principles or beliefs
7.
allegiance or loyalty, as to a person or cause (esp in the phrases keep faith, break faith)
8. bad faith
9. good faith
exclamation
10. archaic
indeed; really (also in the phrases by my faith, in faith)
Word origin
C12: from Anglo-French feid, from Latin fidēs trust, confidence
Faith in American English
(feɪθ)
noun
a feminine name
Word origin
see faith
faith in American English
(feɪθ)
noun
1.
unquestioning belief that does not require proof or evidence
2.
unquestioning belief in God, religious tenets, etc.
3.
a religion or a system of religious beliefs
4.
anything believed
5.
complete trust, confidence, or reliance
6.
allegiance to some person or thing; loyalty
bad faith, good faith
interjection
7. Archaic
indeed; in faith
SIMILAR WORDS: beˈlief
Idioms:
break (or keep) faith
in faith
on faith
Word origin
ME feith < OFr feid, fei < L fides, confidence, belief (in LL(Ec), the Christian religion) < fidere, to trust < IE base *bheidh-, to urge, be convinced > bide, Gr peithein, to persuade, L foedus, a compact
Examples of 'faith' in a sentence
faith
He was a man strong in his faith, certain in his knowledge of that which was ultimately important.
Jack Higgins THE KEYS OF HELL (2002)
And in his new movie, Pure of Heart, he played a Christian Scientist prepared to lay down his life for his faith.
Fay Weldon NOTHING TO WEAR AND NOWHERE TO HIDE: A COLLECTION OF SHORT STORIES (2002)
The odd thing was that it didn't interfere with her faith at all.
Hugo Wilcken THE EXECUTION (2002)
Quotations
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seenBible: Hebrews
I show you doubt, to prove that faith existsRobert BrowningBalaustion's Adventure
Faith without works is deadBible: James
The faith that stands on authority is not faithRalph Waldo EmersonEssays
Faith will move mountains
In other languages
faith
British English: faith /feɪθ/ NOUN
If you have faith in someone or something, you feel confident about their ability or goodness.
I have faith in the honesty of my employees.
American English: faith
Arabic: ثِقَة إخلاص
Brazilian Portuguese: fé
Chinese: 信念
Croatian: vjera
Czech: víra
Danish: tro
Dutch: vertrouwen "(delete ""in god"")"
European Spanish: fe
Finnish: usko
French: foi
German: Glaube
Greek: πίστη
Italian: fede
Japanese: 信念
Korean: 믿음
Norwegian: tro
Polish: wiara
European Portuguese: fé
Romanian: încredere
Russian: вера
Latin American Spanish: fe
Swedish: tro religiös
Thai: ความศรัทธา
Turkish: inanç
Ukrainian: віра
Vietnamese: niềm tin
All related terms of 'faith'
bad faith
intention to deceive ; treachery or dishonesty (esp in the phrase in bad faith )
in faith
indeed; really
on faith
through trust ; without proof or evidence
Attic faith
unshakable faith
faith-based
affiliated with or sponsored by a church or other religious organization
faith cure
→ faith healing
faith hate
prejudice against a particular group on religious grounds
good faith
honesty or sincerity, as of intention in business (esp in the phrase in good faith )
Baha'í Faith
a religious system founded in 1863 by Baha'ullah, based on Babism and emphasizing the value of all religions and the spiritual unity of all humankind
faith healer
A faith healer is someone who believes they can treat and heal sick people using prayer or supernatural powers.
faith healing
Faith healing is the treatment of a sick person by someone who believes that they are able to heal people through prayer or a supernatural power.
faith school
a school that provides a general education within a framework of a specific religious belief
act of faith
an act that demonstrates or tests a person's religious beliefs
faith community
a community of people sharing the same religious faith
in good faith
If you do something in good faith , you seriously believe that what you are doing is right , honest , or legal , even though this may not be the case .
leap of faith
If you take a leap of faith , you do something even though you are not sure it is right or will succeed .
article of faith
If something is an article of faith for a person or group, they believe in it totally.
breach of faith
a violation of good faith , confidence , or trust ; betrayal
break faith with
If you break faith with someone you made a promise to or something you believed in, you stop acting in a way that supports them.
keep faith with
If you keep faith with someone you have made a promise to or something you believe in, you continue to support them even when it is difficult to do so.
utmost good faith
a principle used in insurance contracts , legally obliging all parties to reveal to the others any information that might influence the others' decision to enter into the contract
confession of faith
a formal public avowal of religious beliefs
profession of faith
an occupation requiring special training in the liberal arts or sciences , esp one of the three learned professions , law, theology , or medicine
break (or keep) faith
to be disloyal (or loyal ) to one's beliefs , principles, etc.
Defender of the Faith
the title conferred upon Henry VIII by Pope Leo X in 1521 in recognition of the King's pamphlet attacking Luther's doctrines and retained by subsequent monarchs of England
justification by faith
reasonable grounds for complaint , defence , etc
to take a leap of faith
to risk belief
confession
A confession is a signed statement by someone in which they admit that they have committed a particular crime.
Chinese translation of 'faith'
faith
(feɪθ)
n
(u) (= trust) 信任 (xìnrèn)
(c) (= specific religion) 宗教 (zōngjiào) (种(種), zhǒng)
(u) (= religious belief) 信仰 (xìnyǎng)
to have faith in sb/sth相信某人/某事 (xiāngxìn mǒurén/mǒushì)
in good faith真心实(實)意的 (zhēnxīn-shíyì de)
1 (noun)
Definition
complete confidence or trust, such as in a person or remedy
She had placed a great deal of faith in him.
Synonyms
confidence
I have every confidence in you.
trust
There's a feeling of warmth and trust here.
credit
At first this theory met with little credit.
conviction
assurance
He led the orchestra with assurance.
dependence
the city's traditional dependence on tourism
reliance
If you respond immediately, you will guarantee people's reliance on you.
credence
Seismologists give this idea little credence.
Opposites
doubt
,
suspicion
,
uncertainty
,
rejection
,
denial
,
disbelief
,
scepticism
,
distrust
,
apprehension
,
mistrust
,
misgiving
,
incredulity
2 (noun)
Definition
a specific system of religious beliefs
England shifted officially from a Catholic to a Protestant faith in the 16th century.
Synonyms
religion
his understanding of Indian philosophy and religion
church
the Roman Catholic Church
belief
He refuses to compete on Sundays because of his religious beliefs.
persuasion
people who are of a different political persuasion
creed
The centre is open to all, no matter what race or creed.
communion
denomination
Acceptance of women preachers varies from one denomination to another.
dogma
the dogma of the Immaculate Conception
Opposites
agnosticism
idioms
See break faith with someone
See in good faith
See keep faith with someone
Quotations
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen [Bible: Hebrews]I show you doubt, to prove that faith exists [Robert Browning – Balaustion's Adventure]Faith without works is dead [Bible: James]The faith that stands on authority is not faith [Ralph Waldo Emerson – Essays]
proverb
Faith will move mountains
Additional synonyms
in the sense of assurance
Definition
feeling of confidence
He led the orchestra with assurance.
Synonyms
confidence,
conviction,
courage,
certainty,
self-confidence,
poise,
assertiveness,
security,
faith,
coolness,
nerve,
aplomb,
boldness,
self-reliance,
firmness,
self-assurance,
certitude,
sureness,
self-possession,
positiveness,
assuredness
in the sense of belief
Definition
a principle, etc., accepted as true, often without proof
He refuses to compete on Sundays because of his religious beliefs.