faith
faith — noun
1. the feeling of being sure that someone or something is honest, reliable, or capa
the feeling of being sure that someone or something is honest, reliable, or capable, even when you cannot prove it with facts
Mira showed complete faith in her lawyer's advice about the case.
collocation: have/show faith in [person]
The players never lost faith in their coach, even after five straight losses.
collocation: lose faith in [person]
Jiwoo has faith that the new system will improve the company's efficiency.
faith + that-clause for confident expectation
Public faith in the government's ability to manage the crisis collapsed quickly.
It takes a lot of faith to trust someone you have just met.
pattern: it takes faith + to-infinitive
- have faith in
- show faith in
- lose faith in
- restore faith in
- put faith in
- complete faith
- absolute faith
- blind faith
- trust
more personal and relational; 'trust' can be transitive ('I trust you'), while 'faith' needs 'in'
- confidence
based more on past evidence or proven ability; less emotional than 'faith'
- reliance
focuses on depending on someone for practical help rather than emotional belief
Grammar Patterns
have faith in [person/thing]
lose faith in [person/thing]
have faith that [clause]
Usage Note
Followed by 'in' + noun phrase ('faith in democracy') or a that-clause ('faith that everything will work out'). The opposite is 'doubt' or 'suspicion'.
Common Mistakes
2. a specific system of religious belief, such as Christianity, Islam, or Buddhism,
a specific system of religious belief, such as Christianity, Islam, or Buddhism, with its own teachings, practices, and community of followers
The conference brought together religious leaders from many different faiths.
collocation: people of different/all faiths
Christopher was raised in the Catholic faith but later decided to explore Buddhism.
collocation: be raised in/brought up in the [religion] faith
Amihan wrote her university essay on the role of women in the Hindu faith.
The law guarantees the right of every citizen to practise their own faith freely.
collocation: practise one's faith
People of all faiths joined together to help rebuild the damaged community centre.
- the Christian faith
- the Islamic faith
- the Jewish faith
- the Buddhist faith
- people of all faiths
- practise one's faith
- follow a faith
- spread the faith
- religion
broader term that includes the institution, culture, and practices; 'faith' emphasises the belief system more
- creed
more formal, refers to a formal statement of religious beliefs rather than the whole religion
- denomination
a subgroup within a religion, such as Protestantism within Christianity
Grammar Patterns
the [adjective] faith
people of all faiths
[religion name] faith
Usage Note
Used countably when referring to distinct religions ('three major faiths'). Often preceded by 'the' + adjective ('the Jewish faith'). Not interchangeable with 'religion' in all contexts — 'faith' emphasises the belief aspect, while 'religion' includes the institutional and cultural dimensions.
Common Mistakes
3. a strong personal belief in God, gods, or the teachings of a religion, felt deep
a strong personal belief in God, gods, or the teachings of a religion, felt deeply in the heart rather than proven by facts
Faisal draws strength from his faith during times of difficulty and loss.
collocation: draw strength from one's faith
The elderly nun said her faith in God had never wavered in seventy years.
collocation: faith in God
Tamar knelt by her hospital bed each night and prayed, drawing peace from her faith in God.
Tara lost her faith after the tragedy and stopped going to church altogether.
collocation: lose one's faith
The priest encouraged the congregation to keep their faith strong through prayer.
- deep faith
- strong faith
- lose one's faith
- keep the faith
- faith in God
- religious faith
- strengthen one's faith
- test one's faith
- belief
broader — can be secular or religious; 'faith' specifically implies a trust-based, often religious conviction
- piety
focuses on devout behaviour and religious devotion rather than inner conviction
- spirituality
broader range, may not involve a deity or organised religion
Grammar Patterns
have faith
faith in God
strengthen one's faith
Usage Note
Uncountable when referring to the personal quality of believing ('a woman of deep faith'). Write 'a faith' only when specifying the religion (see sense 2). 'Faith' without an article is the general concept of spiritual conviction.
Common Mistakes
4. the quality of staying loyal to a person, group, or promise, shown by acting hon
the quality of staying loyal to a person, group, or promise, shown by acting honestly and keeping commitments
Lakan has always kept faith with his childhood friends, even after moving abroad.
idiom: keep faith with [person]
The union accused the company of negotiating in bad faith by hiding important information.
idiom: in bad faith
The two countries signed the peace agreement in good faith, hoping for lasting peace.
idiom: in good faith
Rodrigo felt his partner had broken faith with their agreement to share the work.
idiom: break faith with [person/agreement]
Adaeze never broke faith with her principles, even when it cost her the promotion.
- in good faith
- in bad faith
- keep faith with
- break faith with
- act in faith
- loyalty
broader and more common; 'faith' in this sense specifically implies keeping promises
- fidelity
more formal, often used in legal or marital contexts
- allegiance
typically used for political or national loyalty
Grammar Patterns
in good faith
in bad faith
keep faith with
break faith with
Usage Note
Dominantly used in fixed expressions. 'In good faith' means with honest intentions; 'in bad faith' means intending to deceive. 'Keep/break faith with' concerns loyalty to a person, group, or set of principles.
Common Mistakes
5. a strong conviction that something is true or right, or that something good will
a strong conviction that something is true or right, or that something good will happen, even when there is no factual evidence to support it
Renata took a leap of faith and moved to a country she had never visited.
idiom: leap of faith
The team's faith in the project never faded, even after all the early difficulties.
Mizuki stayed at the lab past midnight, clinging to her faith that the experiment would eventually work.
faith + that-clause for belief without evidence
The scientist argued that faith has no place in a discipline built on evidence.
contrast: faith vs. evidence/reason
To start your own business without any savings requires a lot of faith.
- leap of faith
- article of faith
- blind faith
- unshakeable faith
- have faith that
- faith in the future
- faith in the system
- conviction
a firmly held belief, often based on moral principles rather than hope
- optimism
focuses on expecting good outcomes rather than inner conviction about truth
- hope
a desire for something to happen, while 'faith' implies stronger certainty
- scepticism
the tendency to question claims that lack proof
- disbelief
refusal or inability to accept something as true
Grammar Patterns
have faith in [something unproven]
faith that [clause]
leap of faith
article of faith
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 is trust in a person or thing's known reliability; this sense is conviction in the truth of something despite lacking evidence. Often used in the phrases 'leap of faith' (trusting an uncertain outcome) and 'article of faith' (a principle accepted without question).
Common Mistakes
in good faith
idiomwith honest and sincere intentions, without any plan to deceive or cheat
The landlord acted in good faith when he lowered the rent for the struggling family.
Tunde donated the money in good faith, never imagining it would be misused.
in bad faith
idiomwith dishonest or deceitful intentions, knowing that what you are doing is wrong
The insurance company was accused of denying the claim in bad faith.
Caio argued that the other party had negotiated in bad faith from the start.
keep faith with
idiomto continue being loyal or supportive to someone or something that you have promised to stand by
Mia promised to keep faith with her grandmother and finish her medical studies.
The politician kept faith with the voters by refusing to accept the bribe.
break faith with
idiomto stop being loyal or fail to keep a promise made to someone or a group you were committed to
Shirin felt that her business partner had broken faith with their original agreement.
No one wants to work with someone who breaks faith with the team so easily.
pin your faith on
idiomto rely on someone or something completely for success or help, believing they will not let you down
The company pinned its faith on the new product to save it from bankruptcy.
Lukas pinned his faith on his best friend to help him through the difficult divorce.
To fail or succeed in keeping a promise or continuing to support someone.
Maya broke faith with her team when she left for a rival company.
Diego kept faith with his old friend by supporting him through the crisis.
a leap of faith
idiomAn act of believing in something that is uncertain or has not been tried before.
Starting her own business required a leap of faith, but Sara succeeded.
Investing in that new technology was a leap of faith for the company.
To depend completely on someone or something for success or help.
The coach pinned his faith on the star player to win the game.
Aiden pinned his faith on the new software to solve the problem.
faith — verb
1. to believe or have trust in someone or something (a form that is no longer used
to believe or have trust in someone or something (a form that is no longer used in everyday modern English, found mainly in very old texts)
In the ancient manuscript, the writer urges readers to faith in divine protection.
archaic transitive verb use
Few people today would faith in such superstitious remedies for their illnesses.
The old prayer book instructs believers to faith God's mercy without question.
Seventeenth-century poets often wrote about those who faith in fate rather than reason.
Grammar Patterns
faith + noun phrase
faith in + noun phrase
Usage Note
Almost never used in modern English. If you see it, it belongs to historical or literary contexts from before the 18th century. Modern equivalents are 'believe', 'trust', or 'have faith in'.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- faithfuladjectiveB2
- faithfullyadverbB2
- faithfulnessnounC1
- faithlessadjectiveC2
- unfaithfuladjectiveB2
- faith-basedadjectiveC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
All four words involve a positive attitude toward someone or something without absolute certainty, but they differ in scope and basis. 'Trust' (B1) is the most personal and relational — you trust a person's character or intentions ('I trust my sister with my savings'). 'Confidence' (B1) leans more on past performance or evidence ('I have confidence in her ability to lead'). 'Faith' (B1) goes beyond evidence and often carries emotional or spiritual weight ('faith in the system'). 'Belief' (A2) is the broadest — it can be about facts, ideas, or people and does not require a relationship ('belief in climate change'). 'Reliance' (B2) is the most practical — it means depending on someone or something for concrete help ('reliance on public transport'). In everyday use, say 'trust' for close personal relationships, 'confidence' for proven skills, and 'faith' when the feeling is strong and not fully backed by facts.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'faith' entered English from Old French 'feid', which came from Latin 'fides' meaning trust, belief, or loyalty. The Latin root 'fides' is related to the verb 'fidere' (to trust) and also to the Greek word 'pistis' (faith, trust). In early Middle English, it was spelled 'feith' or 'fayth' and gradually took on both the religious meaning (belief in God) and the secular meaning (trust in people or institutions). The spelling settled into 'faith' by the 16th century.