act of faith
noun
an act that demonstrates or tests the strength of a person's convictions, as an important personal sacrifice.
Compare
auto-da-fé.
Words nearby act of faith
acrylyl group,
act,
act call,
act curtain,
act of contrition,
act of faith,
act of god,
act of toleration,
act of uniformity,
act of war,
act on
British Dictionary definitions for act of faith
act of faith
noun
Christianity
an act that demonstrates or tests a person's religious beliefs
Idioms and Phrases with act of faith
act of faith
Behavior that shows or tests a person's religious or other convictions, as in Rock climbing with a new, inexperienced partner was a real act of faith. The term is a translation of the Portuguese auto da fé, which referred to the sentencing and execution of heretics (often by burning at the stake) during the Inquisition, when punishing heresy was thought to constitute an assertion of faith. In modern times it is used for more benign circumstances. [Early 1700s]