1
: having met the official requirements that are needed to do a particular type of work
a certified instructor
You must be certified in order to practice medicine.
The carpentry work must be done by someone who is certified for the job.
nationally certified [=(Brit) certificated] teachers
a board-certified doctor [=a doctor whose qualifications have been approved by an official group]
2
chiefly US
a
: officially approved as having met a standard
The food/restaurant is certified kosher.
certified organic vegetables
b
informal
: real or genuine
a certified celebrity
Her boyfriend's a certified weirdo.
Cite this Entry
“Certified.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/certified. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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