certification

noun

cer·​ti·​fi·​ca·​tion ˌsər-tə-fə-ˈkā-shən 

1

: the act of certifying : the state of being certified

2

: a certified statement

Synonyms of certification

• certificate

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

The settlements allowing federal authorities to recoup the funds helped resolve allegations that several companies made false certifications on their PPP loan and forgiveness applications. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026

Each flight should add data needed to support the FAA certification process. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2026

Any brand attempting something similar should ask what its equivalent trust signal is—certification, a guarantee, a verifiable specification—before assuming volume of content alone will move a purchase decision. — Agung Dwi Sandi, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Students also earn a certification in commercial roofing skills and attend several career fairs throughout the year, often with copies of their resume in tow, O’Connell said. — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing certification

• certification mark

Rhymes for certification

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

Medical Definition

certification

noun

cer·​ti·​fi·​ca·​tion ˌsərt-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən 

: the act of certifying : the state of being certified

psychiatrists with subspecialty board certification in geriatrics

—Gary Kennedy

Legal Definition

certification

noun

cer·​ti·​fi·​ca·​tion ˌsər-ti-fi-ˈkā-shən 

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