credenza
/krĭ-dĕn′zə/
noun
  1. A buffet, sideboard, or bookcase, especially one without legs.
  2. A piece of office furniture having a long flat top and usually file drawers.
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition. More at Wordnik
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Merriam-Webster
merriam-webster.com › dictionary › credenza
CREDENZA Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
2 weeks ago - 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.
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Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Credenza
Credenza - Wikipedia
December 12, 2024 - In restaurant kitchens, made from stainless steel, it provides a side surface and storage cupboards. It can also be referenced in an office environment for office storage; both above and below a desk space. Originally in Italian the name meant belief or trust (etymologically connected to the ...

dining room sideboard cupboard

Credenza - Wikipedia
Bush Furniture Somerset Office Storage Credenza in Storm Gray
Sauder Palladia Credenza, in Select Cherry finish
Sauder Cottage Road Credenza Desk, White Finish
Sauder Clifford Place Credenza, For TV's up to 46", Grand Walnut finish
A credenza is a dining room sideboard or display cabinet, usually made of burnished and polished wood and decorated with marquetry. The top would often be made of marble, or another decorative … Wikipedia
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Vocabulary.com
vocabulary.com › dictionary › credenza
Credenza - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com
Credenza is an Italian word, a fancier way to say "cupboard." It's a common item of furniture in dining rooms, a place where tablecloths, napkins, dishes, and silverware are stored.
Discussions

“Credenza” is for storing food that’s safe to eat
In Serbian we have word kredenac (креденац) for a piece of furniture similar like the one on the picture but a little bigger and with glass windows at the top used for storing plates and such stuff... More on reddit.com
🌐 r/etymology
21
275
December 16, 2020
What’s the difference between a credenza and a sideboard?
Buffet, sideboard, server, credenza: Do you find yourself using these terms interchangeably? I sure do! After all, there's so much overlap between these furniture types that a piece's classification is often determined solely by its location in your home. Here's four storage pieces: Sideboard: The distinguishing feature of sideboards, according to Houzz, are the short legs. The cabinets may also reach all the way to the floor. Buffet: There is no defining difference between a buffet and sideboard, but if the piece has relatively high legs, it may be referred to as a buffet instead of a sideboard. Server: A server is smaller, shorter, and more formal than a buffet or sideboard. Credenza: Historically a credenza referred to a piece of furniture with no legs and cabinets that reached to the floor, but many modern credenzas have legs. They're likely to have sliding doors as well. There is no difference between a sideboard and a buffet in terms of definition. A sideboard used in the dining room may be called a buffet, and when placed in the living room, called a sideboard. Historically speaking, buffets were first used in Sweden to lay out big spreads of food and drink, known as smorgasbords. The concept of buffet tables caught on in France and then throughout the rest of Europe. In practice, I have noticed that shops and manufacturers seem to call long, low storage pieces on higher legs buffets, and those on shorter (or no) legs sideboards. The word “credenza” comes from the English word “credence” and the Italian word for “belief” – which makes sense, considering the first credenzas were used as a place for food that needed to be tasted to test for poison before being served to a VIP. Early credenzas had no legs, just cabinets reaching to the floor. During the mid-20th century, credenzas enjoyed a renewed popularity among the modern design crowd – but the “new” credenzas tended to be long, low cabinets on slender legs, often with sliding doors. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/InteriorDesign
6
5
May 10, 2018
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Cambridge Dictionary
dictionary.cambridge.org › us › dictionary › english › credenza
CREDENZA | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary
CREDENZA meaning: 1. a kind of low, wide cupboard with several parts and sometimes with drawers, usually used for…. Learn more.
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Dictionary.com
dictionary.com › browse › credenza
CREDENZA Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
November 29, 2025 - CREDENZA definition: Also a sideboard or buffet, especially one without legs. See examples of credenza used in a sentence.
Find elsewhere
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Martha Stewart
marthastewart.com › what-is-a-credenza-7643979
What Is a Credenza? Here's What Makes It Different From a Sideboard and Buffet
May 9, 2025 - A credenza is a versatile piece of furniture made from wood or mixed materials with a long, low profile. It has cabinets, shelving, and drawers typically used to store dishes, cutlery, and linens in the dining room.
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McCreery's
mccreerys.com › blog › 2016 › 06 › 05 › the-credenza-and-its-rich-history
The Credenza and Its Rich History - McCreery's McCreery's
May 8, 2019 - Credenza is defined as compact furniture that was named and created by Jason Phillips, a famous designer. This is a piece of furniture that has a rich history. In essence, credenza is an Italian term that means “belief”. This was the act ...
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/etymology › “credenza” is for storing food that’s safe to eat
r/etymology on Reddit: “Credenza” is for storing food that’s safe to eat
December 16, 2020 -

From Wikipedia:

Originally in Italian the name meant belief or trust (etymologically connected to the English word "credence").

In the 16th century the act of credenza was the tasting of food and drinks by a servant for a lord or other important person (such as the pope or a cardinal) in order to test for poison. The name may have passed then to the room where the act took place, then to the furniture.[4]

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Branch Furniture
branchfurniture.com › turn key › what is a credenza?
What Is a Credenza?
June 1, 2023 - Originally, the credenza was used for food prep and acted as a food serving station in formal dining room areas. In fact, the word credenza is Italian and translates to “belief.” Interestingly, its original purpose was to test food before serving it to royalty to be sure it wasn’t poisoned.
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OfficeDesk
officedesk.com › home › officedesk.com blog
What is a Credenza? Office Storage Guide - OfficeDesk.com
April 17, 2025 - First, let’s define credenza. A credenza is sometimes referred to as a sideboard, server, or buffet and, less frequently, a console. Which term is used is primarily dependent on the use this piece of furniture is being put to.
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Etymonline
etymonline.com › word › credenza
Credenza - Etymology, Origin & Meaning
Compare credenza, which means etymologically "belief" and began as the word for a sideboard on which taste-tested food was set.
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Foter
foter.com › decoraid › blog › what-is-a-credenza
What is a Credenza - Credenza Defined And The Best Styles On The Market - Decoraid by Foter
September 11, 2025 - The credenza is derived from the Latin word credential, which means belief or trust, and it symbolizes credence or credibility. However, this might not make sense until we delve further into the purpose of a credenza. Back in the sixteenth century, it was a common practice for servants to test ...
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Urban Dictionary
urbandictionary.com › define.php
Urban Dictionary: credenza
credenza: Rich persons term for a common [computer desk]. [Sometimes] has a hutch for storing [objects]. desk
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Castlery
castlery.com › us › blog › sideboard-vs-buffet-vs-credenza
Sideboard vs. Buffet vs. Credenza: What's The Difference? | Castlery US
October 14, 2025 - In the past, credenzas were specifically designed to hold dishes that were tested for poison before being served to nobility. Today, credenzas have evolved into versatile storage solutions that can enhance any room.
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Living Spaces
livingspaces.com › inspiration › ideas-advice › guides › credenza-vs-buffet-vs-sideboard-whats-the-difference
Credenza vs. Buffet vs. Sideboard: What’s the Best Choice for Your Home?
A credenza is a long, low storage piece that adds style and functionality to a variety of spaces. Originally designed to store dinnerware and food, modern credenzas are highly versatile and can serve as media units, office storage, or decorative ...
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HGTV
hgtv.com › home › shopping › furniture and accessories
What Is a Credenza? And How to Tell The Difference From a Sideboard or Buffet Table
Opalhouse Boho-Chic Credenza
Back in the day (read: the 14th century), the term "credenza" referred to a decorative piece of dining room furniture where servants would sample food and drink for elites. The idea was that if the noble family's meal had been poisoned, which ...
Price   $270.00
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Merriam-Webster
merriam-webster.com › thesaurus › credenza
CREDENZA Synonyms: 30 Similar Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus
November 12, 2025 - Synonyms for CREDENZA: bookcase, chest, cabinet, étagère, sideboard, secretary, breakfront, console, dresser, buffet
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Spoken
spoken.io › blog › what is a credenza?
What is a Credenza?
September 18, 2024 - The term "credenza" comes from the Italian word "credenza," meaning "belief" or "trust." Historically, it referred to the room where food was tasted for poison before being served to nobility, ensuring it was safe to eat.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/interiordesign › what’s the difference between a credenza and a sideboard?
r/InteriorDesign on Reddit: What’s the difference between a credenza and a sideboard?
May 10, 2018 -

Are they the same thing? What are they for? And is a “buffet” just a credenza that’s in a dining room?

Thanks!

Top answer
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3
A credenza, in my mind, is usually a piece of furniture in an office setting. It sits behind or to the side of the matching executive desk. A sideboard is a taller piece of furniture used in a dining room as a storage space and buffet spot.
2 of 3
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Buffet, sideboard, server, credenza: Do you find yourself using these terms interchangeably? I sure do! After all, there's so much overlap between these furniture types that a piece's classification is often determined solely by its location in your home. Here's four storage pieces: Sideboard: The distinguishing feature of sideboards, according to Houzz, are the short legs. The cabinets may also reach all the way to the floor. Buffet: There is no defining difference between a buffet and sideboard, but if the piece has relatively high legs, it may be referred to as a buffet instead of a sideboard. Server: A server is smaller, shorter, and more formal than a buffet or sideboard. Credenza: Historically a credenza referred to a piece of furniture with no legs and cabinets that reached to the floor, but many modern credenzas have legs. They're likely to have sliding doors as well. There is no difference between a sideboard and a buffet in terms of definition. A sideboard used in the dining room may be called a buffet, and when placed in the living room, called a sideboard. Historically speaking, buffets were first used in Sweden to lay out big spreads of food and drink, known as smorgasbords. The concept of buffet tables caught on in France and then throughout the rest of Europe. In practice, I have noticed that shops and manufacturers seem to call long, low storage pieces on higher legs buffets, and those on shorter (or no) legs sideboards. The word “credenza” comes from the English word “credence” and the Italian word for “belief” – which makes sense, considering the first credenzas were used as a place for food that needed to be tasted to test for poison before being served to a VIP. Early credenzas had no legs, just cabinets reaching to the floor. During the mid-20th century, credenzas enjoyed a renewed popularity among the modern design crowd – but the “new” credenzas tended to be long, low cabinets on slender legs, often with sliding doors.
🌐
Wordnik
wordnik.com › words › credenza
credenza - definition and meaning
credenza: A buffet, sideboard, or bookcase, especially one without legs.