Definition of belief

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be·lief    (b-lf) KEY 

NOUN:

1. The mental act, condition, or habit of placing trust or confidence in another: My belief in you is as strong as ever.
2. Mental acceptance of and conviction in the truth, actuality, or validity of something: His explanation of what happened defies belief.
3. Something believed or accepted as true, especially a particular tenet or a body of tenets accepted by a group of persons.

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ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English bileve, alteration (influenced by bileven, to believe), of Old English gelafa; see leubh- in Indo-European roots

SYNONYMS:
belief, credence, credit, faith

These nouns denote mental acceptance of the truth, actuality, or validity of something: a statement unworthy of belief; an idea steadily gaining credence; testimony meriting credit; has no faith in a liar's assertions. See also Synonyms at opinion.
Antonym: disbelief