certified

adjective

cer·​ti·​fied ˈsər-tə-ˌfīd 

1

: having earned certification

a certified gemologist

2

: genuine, authentic

a certified big shot

certified intellectuals

Synonyms

• authentic
• bona fide
• certifiable
• dinkum [Australian & New Zealand]
• echt
• genuine
• honest
• pukka
• pucka
• real
• right
• sure-enough
• true

Examples of certified in a Sentence

You must be certified in order to practice medicine.

The carpentry work must be done by someone who is certified for the job.

The food is certified kosher.

Her boyfriend's a certified weirdo.

Recent Examples on the Web

In this two-hander, Stephanie Shum plays Jenny, a young Japanese American woman who works as a certified nursing assistant and is mourning the recent death of her partner Bill, an older man who was her patient before the two formed a relationship. —Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2025

Yet there are no certified GFCI outlets in the US designed for use with devices that consume power, like a blender, and those that generate it, like a balcony solar setup. —Akielly Hu, Wired News, 3 May 2025

The author is studying for the July California bar exam and is a certified Pilates instructor. —Erica Holopainen, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2025

And there’s plenty more including certified ’50s classics like Oscar winner Ben-Hur; Sunset Boulevard; Lili; Oklahoma; To Catch a Thief; Disney’s Cinderella; Suddenly Last Summer; and more. —Pete Hammond, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing certified

• board-certified
• certified check
• certified mail
• certified milk
• certified organic
• certified public accountant

Rhymes for certified

• actinide
• aldehyde
• alkoxide
• alongside
• amplified
• arsenide
• beautified
• biocide
• butoxide
• calcified
• ceramide
• citywide