a certain
idiom
1
—used to refer to a quality that is noticed but that is difficult to explain or describe
She has a certain elegance about her.
The house has a certain charm.
2
formal
—used with the name of a person one does not know
In 1889, a certain Mr. Kelly made a large donation to the church.
Examples of a certain in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For farmers and ranchers, a certain amount of uncertainty is part of the business.
—
Stephen Martin, Oklahoma Watch, 31 Jan. 2026
Does Gran Canaria have a certain reputation in Norway?
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 31 Jan. 2026
For those of us who love to be aggrieved, just as much enjoyment can be found in rooting against a certain film.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026
The nurses interviewed by AP said they felt intimidated by ICE’s presence in the critical care unit and had even been told to avoid a certain bathroom to minimize encounters with officers.
—Jack Brook, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for a certain
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Stephen Martin, Oklahoma Watch, 31 Jan. 2026
Does Gran Canaria have a certain reputation in Norway?
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 31 Jan. 2026
For those of us who love to be aggrieved, just as much enjoyment can be found in rooting against a certain film.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026
The nurses interviewed by AP said they felt intimidated by ICE’s presence in the critical care unit and had even been told to avoid a certain bathroom to minimize encounters with officers.
—Jack Brook, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for a certain
Cite this Entry
“A certain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20certain. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
