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
Some people may feel that their stress piles up as tension in a certain area of their body, such as their neck, shoulders or feet.
—
Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
There is a certain professional attitude fans have toward their pro sports teams, too.
—Will Leitch, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
At a certain point, the discussion and decision becomes purely economical.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2025
But there is a certain level of caution, and maybe even occasionally cowardice, in how these political topics are handled.
—Richard Newby, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for a certain
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Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
There is a certain professional attitude fans have toward their pro sports teams, too.
—Will Leitch, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
At a certain point, the discussion and decision becomes purely economical.
—Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2025
But there is a certain level of caution, and maybe even occasionally cowardice, in how these political topics are handled.
—Richard Newby, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
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 1 Oct. 2025.
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