accredit

verb

ac·​cred·​it ə-ˈkre-dət 

accredited; accrediting; accredits

transitive verb

1

: to give official authorization to or approval of:

a

: to provide with credentials

especially : to send (an envoy) with letters of authorization

accredit an ambassador to France

b

: to recognize or vouch for as conforming with a standard

The program was accredited by the American Dental Association.

c

: to recognize (an educational institution) as maintaining standards that qualify the graduates for admission to higher or more specialized institutions or for professional practice

2

: to consider or recognize as outstanding

an accredited scientist

3

: attribute, credit

an invention accredited to the company's founder

accreditable

ə-ˈkre-də-tə-bəl 

adjective

accreditation

ə-ˌkre-də-ˈtā-shən 

-ˈdā-

noun

Synonyms

• ascribe
• attribute
• chalk up
• credit
• impute
• lay
• put down

Choose the Right Synonym for accredit

approve, endorse, sanction, accredit, certify mean to have or express a favorable opinion of.

approve often implies no more than this but may suggest considerable esteem or admiration.

the parents approve of the marriage

endorse suggests an explicit statement of support.

publicly endorsed her for Senator

sanction implies both approval and authorization.

the President sanctioned covert operations

accredit and certify usually imply official endorsement attesting to conformity to set standards.

the board voted to accredit the college

must be certified to teach

Example Sentences

The association only accredits programs that meet its high standards.

The program was accredited by the American Dental Association.

The invention of scuba gear is accredited to Jacques Cousteau.

accredit an ambassador to France

Recent Examples on the Web

Diplomats and legal experts see little hope Mr. Gershkovich, a reporter accredited by the Russian foreign ministry, will immediately be freed, given that espionage trials in Russia are conducted in secret and almost always end in a conviction. —Joe Parkinson, WSJ, 31 Mar. 2023

According to its website, NAEYC is a national accrediting board that works to provide high-quality early learning materials for children up to age eight. —al, 26 Jan. 2023

His proposals include dismantling accrediting organizations, and removing diversity, equity and inclusion administrators. —Chuck Todd, NBC News, 3 May 2023

For the 2021-2022 school year, 89 percent of Virginia’s public K-12 schools are fully accredited, compared with 92 percent in the 2019-2020 school year. —Karina Elwood, Washington Post, 24 Apr. 2023

Pawsitive Teams was accredited by Assistance Dogs International in 2005 and now has three part-time employees, 50 volunteers and a training and education center. —Diane Bell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2023

His arrest was a moment that crystallized just how far and how fast President Vladimir V. Putin’s Russia has morphed into a police state in which no one is safe — not even a journalist officially accredited by Russia’s Foreign Ministry. —Anton Troianovski, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2023

The Shanghai festival was launched in 1993 and was accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF) as China’s first and only international competitive feature film festival. —Patrick Frater, Variety, 3 Apr. 2023

Gershkovich, who reports on Russia as part of the Journal’s Moscow bureau, is accredited to work as a journalist in Russia by the country’s foreign ministry, the agency said. —John Bacon, USA TODAY, 30 Mar. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

probably borrowed from Latin accrēditus, past participle of accrēdere "to give credence to, believe, put faith in," from ad- ad- + crēdere "to entrust, believe" — more at creed

First Known Use

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

accredit

verb

ac·​cred·​it ə-ˈkred-ət 

1

: to send with credentials and authority to act as representative

accredit an ambassador to France

2

: to certify as in agreement with a standard

an accredited school

3

: to give credit to

accreditation

ə-ˌkred-ə-ˈtā-shən 

-ˈdā-

noun