credible
- Able to be believed or trusted; convincing and plausible.
- Capable of being effective or successful; viable.
In a sentence
- The witness gave a credible account of the events that the jury found persuasive.
- Without more funding, the plan for a moon base hardly seemed credible.
Usage note. Do not confuse 'credible' (believable) with 'credulous' (too ready to believe things); they describe opposite qualities.
Where it comes from
English credible · entered English late 14th c.
From Latin 'credibilis' (worthy of belief), derived from 'credere' (to believe or trust). It entered English in the late 14th century, likely via the influence of Old French.