Definition of: faith

(fāth) noun
1. Belief without evidence.
2. Confidence in or dependence on a person, statement, or thing as trustworthy. ♦ Collateral adjective: fiducial.
3. Belief in God or the testimony of God as revealed in Scripture.
4. A doctrine or system of doctrines, propositions, etc., held to be true: the Christian faith.
5. Anything given adherence or credence: a man's political faith.
6. Allegiance or loyal adherence to something; faithfulness: to pledge faith in a venture.
—bad faith Deceit; dishonesty.
—in faith Indeed; truly.
—in good faith Honestly; with honorable intentions.
—to break faith
1. To betray one's principles or beliefs.
2. To fail to keep a promise.
—to keep faith
1. To adhere to one's principles or beliefs.
2. To keep a promise.
—interj. In truth; indeed. [<OF feit, feid <L fides <fidere trust] Synonyms (noun): assent, assurance, belief, confidence, conviction, credence, credit, creed, doctrine, opinion, reliance, trust. Belief, as an intellectual process, is the acceptance of something as true on other grounds than personal observation and experience. We give credence to a report, assent to a proposition or to a proposal. Belief is stronger than credence; credence might be described as a prima–facie belief; credence is a more formal word than belief, and seems to imply somewhat more of volition; we speak of giving credence to a report, but not of giving belief. Goods are sold on credit; we give one credit for good intentions. Conviction is a belief established by argument or evidence; assurance is belief beyond the reach of argument; as, the Christian's assurance of salvation. Faith is a union of belief and trust. Faith is often personal; belief may be quite impersonal, but as soon as a belief is strong enough to be followed by definite action, the belief becomes faith. In religion it is common to distinguish between intellectual belief of religious truth, as any other truth might be believed, and belief of the heart, or saving faith. Compare FIDELITY, OPINION, RELIGION, TRUST. Antonyms: denial, disbelief, dissent, distrust, doubt, incredulity, infidelity, misgiving, rejection, skepticism, suspicion, unbelief.