certify

verb

cer·​ti·​fy ˈsər-tə-ˌfī 

certified; certifying

transitive verb

1

: to attest authoritatively: such as

a

: confirm

b

: to present in formal communication

c

: to attest as being true or as represented or as meeting a standard

d

: to attest officially to the insanity of

2

: to inform with certainty : assure

3

: to guarantee (a personal check) as to signature and amount by so indicating on the face

4

: to recognize as having met special qualifications (as of a governmental agency or professional board) within a field

agencies that certify teachers

certifier

ˈsər-tə-ˌfī(-ə)r 

noun

Synonyms

• attest
• authenticate
• avouch
• testify (to)
• vouch (for)
• witness

Choose the Right Synonym for certify

certify, attest, witness, vouch mean to testify to the truth or genuineness of something.

certify usually applies to a written statement, especially one carrying a signature or seal.

certified that the candidate had met all requirements

attest applies to oral or written testimony usually from experts or witnesses.

attested to the authenticity of the document

witness applies to the subscribing of one's own name to a document as evidence of its genuineness.

witnessed the signing of the will

vouch applies to one who testifies as a competent authority or a reliable person.

willing to vouch for her integrity

synonyms see in addition approve

Examples of certify in a Sentence

A judge must certify the contract.

The document has been certified by the court.

The car dealer certifies each car before it is sold.

Has your doctor been certified?

Recent Examples on the Web

In his first major vote, LaTurner voted against certifying the results of the 2020 election. —Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 18 Apr. 2024

Carlos Campos said the two seats will be vacated once the City Council certifies the results. —Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024

If the case is accepted on its merits, the appellate court must decide if it will be decided in a summary disposition, whether briefs will be submitted either with or without oral arguments, or whether the case should be certified to the Wisconsin Supreme Court for consideration. —Jim Riccioli, Journal Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2024

Nearby Menlo Park had its housing element certified only last March after several revisions. —Ryan MacAsero, The Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2024

Other potential customers showed an immediate interest in a conventional-takeoff version, which in any case was going to be easier to certify, so the team built a near-identical second model without lift propellers. —Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024

The draft rules also call for organizations that offer community service opportunities to certify or verify to the student's school that a student has completed the service. —Cynthia Howell, arkansasonline.com, 14 Apr. 2024

While there are more tailwinds for COMAC now than before, one of the biggest challenges for COMAC is getting certified by major authorities outside China. —Byprarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 8 Apr. 2024

Read More: Why Heart Disease Research Still Favors Men To conduct the current analysis, the investigators selected 40 different bandage products from a variety of brands and sent them to a laboratory certified by the EPA. —Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 5 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English certifien, from Anglo-French certefier, from Late Latin certificare, from Latin certus certain — more at certain

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

certify

verb

cer·​ti·​fy ˈsərt-ə-ˌfī 

certified; certifying

1

: to guarantee to be true or valid or as claimed or meeting a standard

2

: to recognize as having met special qualifications within a field

certify teachers

certifiable

-ˌfī-ə-bəl

adjective

certification

ˌsərt-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən

noun

certifier

ˈsərt-ə-ˌfī(-ə)r 

noun

Medical Definition

certify

verb

cer·​ti·​fy ˈsərt-ə-ˌfī 

certified; certifying

transitive verb

1

: to attest authoritatively

especially : to attest officially to the mental illness of

2

: to designate as having met the requirements to practice medicine or a particular medical specialty

intransitive verb

: to attest by a certificate

five year program leading to examination by the American Board which certifies in that specialty

—Bulletin of Meharry Medical College

certifiable

ˈsər-tə-ˌfī-ə-bəl, ˌsər-tə-ˈfī-

adjective

certifiably

-blē 

adverb

Legal Definition

certify

transitive verb

cer·​ti·​fy ˈsər-tə-ˌfī 

certified; certifying

1

: to state authoritatively: as

a

: to give assurance of the validity of

certify corporate records

b

: to present in formal communication (as an order) especially for review by an appellate court

the court may certify the question to the Supreme Judicial Court

—R. T. Gerwatowski

see also certification

c

: to state as being true or as reported or as meeting a standard

refused to certify the suit as a class action and dismissed it

—Marcia Coyle

2

: to guarantee (a personal check) as to signature and amount by so indicating (as by stamping certified) on the face see also certified check at check

3

a

: certificate, license

b

: to designate (a labor union) as an exclusive bargaining agent or representative

Etymology

Medieval Latin certificare, from Late Latin, to assure, convince, from Latin certus certain + -ficare to make