certify
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to attest as certain; give reliable information of; confirm.
He certified the truth of his claim.
- Synonyms:
- guarantee, validate, verify, corroborate
-
to testify to or vouch for in writing.
The medical examiner will certify his findings to the court.
-
to guarantee; endorse reliably.
to certify a document with an official seal.
-
to guarantee (a check) by writing on its face that the account against which it is drawn has sufficient funds to pay it.
-
to award a certificate to (a person) attesting to the completion of a course of study or the passing of a qualifying examination.
-
to declare legally insane and committable to a mental institution.
-
Archaic. to assure or inform with certainty.
verb (used without object)
verb
-
to confirm or attest (to), usually in writing
the letter certified her age
-
(tr) to endorse or guarantee (that certain required standards have been met)
-
to give reliable information or assurances
he certified that it was Walter's handwriting
-
(tr) to declare legally insane
-
(tr) (of a bank) to state in writing on (a cheque) that payment is guaranteed
Other Word Forms
- certifier noun
- precertify verb (used with object)
- recertify verb (used with object)
- uncertifying adjective
Etymology
Origin of certify
1300–50; Middle English certifien < Middle French certifier < Late Latin certificāre, equivalent to Latin certi- (combining form of certus decided; certain ) + -ficāre -fy
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Douglas Boneparth, a certified financial planner, had managed his family’s finances until a few years ago, when his wife, Heather, decided she wanted more visibility.
A spokesperson for General Mills, whose cereal brands include Cheerios and Lucky Charms, said the company remains committed to removing certified synthetic colours from all US cereals by this summer.
From BBC
Asked if the story was true, Leah responded, “If my father, mother, and brother David have certified to such a statement, it is true.”
From Literature
The loans “become dangerous … when they are used to preserve a lifestyle instead of solve a balance-sheet problem,” said Justin Rice, a certified financial planner at Hamilton, N.J.-based Personal Wealth Strategies.
From MarketWatch
In most other cases, you would be required to submit a certified copy of the death certificate to a financial institution in order to transfer or deposit inherited funds into your account.
From MarketWatch
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
