credo

/ˈkridoʊ/

/ˈkridəʊ/

Other forms: credos

Credo is Latin for, literally, "I believe," and originally meant a particular religious belief. Now it has the far broader meaning of any system of principles that guide a person or group.

There's often a faintly jokey air to the word as used today, perhaps in recognition that it once popularly held such a high-minded meaning. A hedonist's credo might be simply "party on," or "enjoy the ride;" an actor's "the show must go on." Politicians have credos, and so too, presumably, do rappers and weather forecasters.

Definitions of credo

1. noun

   any system of principles or beliefs
   synonyms: creed

   types:

   testament

   a profession of belief

   Athanasian Creed

   a Christian profession of faith

   type of:

   doctrine, ism, philosophical system, philosophy, school of thought

   a belief (or system of beliefs) accepted as authoritative by some group or school