Illustration of credenza
- credenza 2
credenza
noun
cre·den·za
kri-ˈden-zə 
1
2
: a sideboard, buffet, or bookcase patterned after a Renaissance credence
especially
: one without legs
Did you know?
In Italian credenza means “belief” or “confidence,” and confidence is just what a member of a noble or royal household needed before eating in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Being poisoned by one’s enemies was an ever-present danger. As a result, it was customary for members of royal or noble families to have a servant taste their food and drink after it left the kitchen and before it was served. The tasting was done at a dining room sideboard, and the name of the sideboard became credenza in Italian.
Examples of credenza in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Sofas, credenzas, bar stools, ottomans, rugs, bookshelves, ceramic knickknacks, floor lamps, table lamps, desk lamps - each week, Westen and his crew made their way through a fictional Miami, and each stop had to be furnished.
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Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 8 July 2025
Decorate coffee tables, credenzas, and dining room tablescapes with one or several of these golden-toned glass hurricanes.
—Ali Faccenda, People.com, 6 Oct. 2024
Other quirky details of the ’60s-era file credenza include a lock that can be opened and closed with a coin (a subtle nod to the fact that the company was originally a hardware and lock business).
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 30 June 2025
Concert Hall Credenza Save over $1,700 on this shabby chic credenza.
—Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for credenza
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Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 8 July 2025
Decorate coffee tables, credenzas, and dining room tablescapes with one or several of these golden-toned glass hurricanes.
—Ali Faccenda, People.com, 6 Oct. 2024
Other quirky details of the ’60s-era file credenza include a lock that can be opened and closed with a coin (a subtle nod to the fact that the company was originally a hardware and lock business).
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 30 June 2025
Concert Hall Credenza Save over $1,700 on this shabby chic credenza.
—Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for credenza
Cite this Entry
“Credenza.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/credenza. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.
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