belief
♦ be|lief /bɪl'iːf/ (beliefs)
1 [N-UNCOUNT] usu N in n
Belief is a feeling of certainty that something exists, is true, or is good.
One billion people throughout the world are Muslims, united by belief in one god.
...a belief in personal liberty.
2 [N-PLURAL] usu supp N
Your religious or political beliefs are your views on religious or political matters.
He refuses to compete on Sundays because of his religious beliefs.
3 [N-SING] usu N that
If it is your belief that something is the case, it is your strong opinion that it is the case.
It is our belief that improvements in health care will lead to a stronger, more prosperous economy.
4 [PHRASE] adj PHR, PHR after v
You use beyond belief to emphasize that something is true to a very great degree or that it happened to a very great degree.
We are devastated, shocked beyond belief...
5 [PHRASE] PHR with cl
You use contrary to popular belief to introduce a statement that is the opposite to what is thought to be true by most ordinary people.
Contrary to popular belief, there is no evidence that what you look like makes much difference to your life.
6 [PHRASE] PHR after v, PHR cl
If you do one thing in the belief that another thing is true or will happen, you do it because you think, usually wrongly, that it is true or will happen.
Civilians had broken into the building, apparently in the belief that it contained food.be|lief sys|tem (belief systems)
[N-COUNT] oft with poss
The belief system of a person or society is the set of beliefs that they have about what is right and wrong and what is true and false.
...the belief systems of various ethnic groups.
1 [N-UNCOUNT] usu N in n
Belief is a feeling of certainty that something exists, is true, or is good.
One billion people throughout the world are Muslims, united by belief in one god.
...a belief in personal liberty.
2 [N-PLURAL] usu supp N
Your religious or political beliefs are your views on religious or political matters.
He refuses to compete on Sundays because of his religious beliefs.
3 [N-SING] usu N that
If it is your belief that something is the case, it is your strong opinion that it is the case.
It is our belief that improvements in health care will lead to a stronger, more prosperous economy.
4 [PHRASE] adj PHR, PHR after v
You use beyond belief to emphasize that something is true to a very great degree or that it happened to a very great degree.
We are devastated, shocked beyond belief...
5 [PHRASE] PHR with cl
You use contrary to popular belief to introduce a statement that is the opposite to what is thought to be true by most ordinary people.
Contrary to popular belief, there is no evidence that what you look like makes much difference to your life.
6 [PHRASE] PHR after v, PHR cl
If you do one thing in the belief that another thing is true or will happen, you do it because you think, usually wrongly, that it is true or will happen.
Civilians had broken into the building, apparently in the belief that it contained food.be|lief sys|tem (belief systems)
[N-COUNT] oft with poss
The belief system of a person or society is the set of beliefs that they have about what is right and wrong and what is true and false.
...the belief systems of various ethnic groups.