credibility gap

noun

1
a
: lack of trust
a credibility gap between generations
b
: lack of believability
a credibility gap created by contradictory official statementsSamuel Ellenport
2
: discrepancy
the credibility gap between the professed ideals … and their actual practicesJeanne L. Noble

Examples of credibility gap in a Sentence

There is a credibility gap between what the mayor says and what the people see happening in the city. The fact that the new estimates are so wildly different from the initial numbers has created a credibility gap.
Recent Examples on the Web
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This disconnect becomes painfully obvious during job interviews, creating an immediate credibility gap. Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025 Moreover, this credibility gap is unlikely to be bridged by an increase in European conventional forces, at least not in the near future. Mark S. Bell, Foreign Affairs, 31 Mar. 2025 Lewin’s Iron Mountain lodged itself rather nicely into the Johnson Administration’s credibility gap. Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025 These metrics underscore the urgency of addressing the credibility gap in HR departments. Chris Westfall, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for credibility gap

Word History

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of credibility gap was in 1962

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Cite this Entry

“Credibility gap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/credibility%20gap. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

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