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
One of the available prizes for selling a certain number of cookies was a trip to Niagara Falls, a location that is special to the girl's parents.
—
Josh Taylor, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2026
Because in order to simply be safe during our sport, while expecting a certain level of performance, our bodies need to be healthy.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 14 Feb. 2026
Marches or parades that require blocking traffic or street closures, large rallies requiring the use of sound amplifying devices or rallies over a certain size may require permits.
—John Tufts, IndyStar, 14 Feb. 2026
The association offers mental health counseling, family therapy, medication management and telehealth visits, all free to individuals and families with an annual household income below a certain threshold, equivalent to $99,000 or less for a family of four.
—Michael Cuglietta, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for a certain
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Josh Taylor, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2026
Because in order to simply be safe during our sport, while expecting a certain level of performance, our bodies need to be healthy.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 14 Feb. 2026
Marches or parades that require blocking traffic or street closures, large rallies requiring the use of sound amplifying devices or rallies over a certain size may require permits.
—John Tufts, IndyStar, 14 Feb. 2026
The association offers mental health counseling, family therapy, medication management and telehealth visits, all free to individuals and families with an annual household income below a certain threshold, equivalent to $99,000 or less for a family of four.
—Michael Cuglietta, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Feb. 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 21 Feb. 2026.
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