be ‧ lief S3 W2 /bəˈliːf, bɪˈliːf/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ belief , ↑ disbelief , ↑ believer ; adjective : ↑ believable ≠ ↑ unbelievable , ↑ disbelieving ; verb : ↑ believe ≠ ↑ disbelieve ; adverb : ↑ unbelievably ]
[ Date: 1100-1200 ; Origin: Probably from Old English geleafa 'belief' , from leafa 'belief, faith' ; influenced by believe ]
1 . [singular, uncountable] the feeling that something is definitely true or definitely exists
belief in
a strong belief in God
belief that
her sincere belief that her brother was not the murderer
in the belief that
Thieves broke into the building in the mistaken belief that there was expensive computer equipment inside.
2 . [singular] the feeling that something is good and can be trusted
belief in
If you’re selling, you have to have genuine belief in the product.
When you get something wrong, it can shake your belief in yourself.
3 . [countable] an idea that you believe to be true, especially one that forms part of a system of ideas:
religious beliefs
Several members hold very right-wing beliefs.
4 . beyond belief used to emphasize that something is so extreme that it is difficult to believe:
What she did was stupid beyond belief.
⇨ it beggars belief at ↑ beggar 2 (1), ⇨ to the best of your belief at ↑ best 3 (4), ⇨ ↑ disbelief , ↑ unbelief
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ a firm/strong belief
It is still my firm belief that we did the right thing.
▪ a strongly-held/deeply-held belief (=that you believe very much)
her strongly-held belief that things were much better in the past
▪ a common/popular/widespread belief (=that a lot of people believe)
There is a common belief that educational standards are declining.
▪ a widely-held belief (=that a lot of people believe)
The article expressed the widely-held belief that unemployment leads to crime.
▪ a mistaken/false belief
the mistaken belief that cannabis is not an addictive drug
▪ a sincere belief (=based on what you really feel is true)
We have a sincere belief in the power of art to enhance human life.
▪ a passionate belief
his passionate belief that technology is a tool to be used for the benefit of mankind
■ verbs
▪ have a belief
You must always have the belief that you can succeed.
▪ hold a belief
He held this belief until the day he died.
▪ be based on the belief that …
Our policies must be based on the belief that the planet’s resources are finite.
■ phrases
▪ it is my belief that
It is my belief that most teachers are doing a good job.
▪ contrary to popular belief (=opposite to what most people think)
Contrary to popular belief, boys are not usually better at maths than girls.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ religion [uncountable and countable] a set of beliefs about a god, and the ceremonies and customs that go with these beliefs. Also used when talking about all religions in general:
Judaism is one of the great religions of the world.
|
African tribal religions
|
a lecture on the role of religion in society
▪ faith [uncountable and countable] a religion, especially one of the large important world religions. Also used when talking about religious belief in general:
The school welcomes children of all faiths.
|
His religious faith was always deeply important to him.
▪ belief [uncountable and countable] the act of believing in a god or gods, or the ideas that someone believes because of their religion:
We all have the right to freedom of belief.
|
They were persecuted because of their religious beliefs.
▪ denomination [countable] a religious group that has slightly different beliefs from other groups who belong to the same religion:
The church is the largest Christian denomination in the United States.
▪ sect [countable] a group of people who have their own set of religious beliefs and customs, especially a group that has separated from a larger group:
He became a member of a Buddhist sect.
|
There are two sects in Islam - the Sunni and the Shi'a.
|
an obscure religious sect
▪ the church [singular, uncountable] the Christian religion in general:
How great is the influence of the church in present-day society?
|
The church has a lot to say about this.
▪ the Catholic/Protestant etc church ( also Church ) [countable] one of the separate groups within the Christian religion:
the Methodist Church
▪ cult [countable] an extreme religious group that is not part of an established religion – often used to show disapproval:
The suicides have been linked to a strange religious cult.
|
the traditional pagan cults of Ancient Rome
▪ creed [uncountable and countable] formal the religion that you belong to, and the set of beliefs that you accept in order to belong to it – often used in phrases when saying that your religion should not affect how you are treated:
There must be no discrimination because of race, colour, or creed.
|
You will be rewarded whatever your race or creed.
▪ faith community [countable] formal a group of people who share the same religious beliefs – used especially in official contexts:
the benefits of living within a supportive faith community