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.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem instructed her department to terminate Harvard's Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification. Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025 Harvard’s lawsuit said the administration violated the government’s own regulations for withdrawing a school’s certification. Collin Binkley, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025 Campuses have been on alert since last month, when the Homeland Security and State departments canceled thousands of enrollment certifications and visas at dozens of U.S. colleges, including UCLA, for individuals who often had minor infractions such as traffic tickets. Michael Wilner, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025 By performing third-party risk assessments on all software vendors—including analysis of security posture, financial health and compliance certifications—and regularly monitoring regulatory changes, procurement teams can better evaluate their total risk exposure. Matthew Buckingham, Forbes.com, 23 May 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 28 May. 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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