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

• certificate
• document
• instrument

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

Other initiatives included covering the cost of certification fees and collaborating with local schools to boost recruitment, the Park District said. —Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2025

To stay competitive, governments and businesses must work together to offer more AI learning programs and certifications to equip workers, ensure their economic growth and close the AI divide. —Russell Sarder, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025

The certification process takes two to three weeks and costs $449. —Kathy Kristof, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 June 2025

Before the Buffalo crash, an aspiring pilot needed 250 hours of flight time for commercial certification. —Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 16 June 2025

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