certification

noun

cer·​ti·​fi·​ca·​tion ˌsər-tə-fə-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce certification (audio)
1
: the act of certifying : the state of being certified
2
: a certified statement

Examples of certification in a Sentence

the certification of the vote She had to wait until her certification as a nurse before she could start her new job. The certifications of nine teachers were revoked. The school offers scuba diving certification.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The administration also revoked Harvard's Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification, froze research funding, and pressed the university on DEI policies and campus protests. Patrick Maguire, CBS News, 29 June 2025 The independent health care accreditation and certification organization has launched a couple high-profile, high-tech partnerships in recent weeks. Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 June 2025 Verify certifications that map to your risk profile. Pranav Dalal, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025 In the nearer term, Southwest is still awaiting deliveries of Boeing 737 Max 7s, the smallest plane in the Max family, which still hasn’t won Federal Aviation Administration certification. Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 25 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for certification

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of certification was in the 15th century

Cite this Entry

“Certification.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/certification. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.

Medical Definition

certification

noun
cer·​ti·​fi·​ca·​tion ˌsərt-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce certification (audio)
: the act of certifying : the state of being certified
psychiatrists with subspecialty board certification in geriatricsGary Kennedy

Legal Definition

certification

noun
cer·​ti·​fi·​ca·​tion ˌsər-ti-fi-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce certification (audio)
1
a
: the act of certifying
b
: the state of being certified see also certiorari

Note: Certification of an interlocutory decision by a trial court allows an appellate court to review the decision and to answer a controlling question of law. Certification is often used in state courts as well as federal courts and, where available, allows a federal court to refer a question of state law to the state's highest court. Certification is also used to refer to a judge's order that allows a suit to be maintained as a class action.

2
: a certified statement

More from Merriam-Webster on certification

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