certificate
Americannoun
-
a document serving as evidence or as written testimony, as of status, qualifications, privileges, or the truth of something.
-
a document attesting to the fact that a person has completed an educational course, issued either by an institution not authorized to grant diplomas, or to a student not qualifying for a diploma.
-
Law. a statement, written and signed, which is by law made evidence of the truth of the facts stated, for all or for certain purposes.
-
Finance.
verb (used with object)
-
to furnish with or authorize by a certificate.
-
to issue an official certificate attesting to the training, aptitude, and qualification of.
to certificate a teacher.
noun
-
an official document attesting the truth of the facts stated, as of birth, marital status, death, health, completion of an academic course, ability to practise a profession, etc
-
short for share certificate
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
certificatesimple
-
certificatessimple
-
have certificatedperfect
-
has certificatedperfect
-
am certificatingprogressive
-
are certificatingprogressive
-
is certificatingprogressive
-
have been certificatingperfect progressive
-
has been certificatingperfect progressive
Past
-
certificatedsimple
-
had certificatedperfect
-
was certificatingprogressive
-
were certificatingprogressive
-
had been certificatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of certificate
1375–1425; late Middle English certificat < Medieval Latin certificātum, noun use of neuter of certificātus certified (past participle of certificāre ), equivalent to certific- ( see certify) + -ātus -ate 1
Explanation
A certificate is a paper or document that proves some fact. Your most prized possession might be the certificate you got when you became a black belt in karate. Your fastidious friend might need to check the health inspection certificate before she'll agree to eat in a restaurant, and you'll need a copy of your birth certificate before you can apply for a passport. A certificate certifies or documents the fact that you are who you say you are, that you're licensed to drive, or authorized to practice dentistry, for example. You can trace the word certificate back to the Latin certus, "sure, fixed, settled."
Vocabulary lists containing certificate
The Judicial Branch
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Week 3 Spelling
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"CLEP Financial Accounting," Vocabulary from Chapter 4
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
“You know when I’m in your city at this point,” the Miami-born rapper said before accepting a framed Guinness World Records certificate.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
"If you've got a death certificate with that on it, surely there's enough proof?"
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
"Symbolic marriage certificate" reads the document, with a special space denoting "paw print of your furry friend."
From Barron's ● Jul. 12, 2026
Once I had all that and my sister’s death certificate, I emailed it all to the insurer and received my reimbursement about a week later.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 9, 2026
In a notarial certificate drawn up by Valentim Fernandes in 1503 Pedro Álvares Cabral’s discovery of Brazil in 1500 is described as the discovery of ‘the land of the Antipodes’.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
With this in mind, it is prudent to maintain two to four years’ worth of living expenses in short-term bonds, certificates of deposit or other low-risk, liquid investments.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
In this case, the babies' birth certificates have been proven to be fraudulent and thus a court could find the basis of their adoption "questionable", he said.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
From March 2019 to May 2026, Chen submitted 15 marriage applications to the Clark County Marriage License Bureau, resulting in eight marriage certificates being issued, according to county records.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
Last year, the agency allowed Boeing to resume issuing some so-called airworthiness certificates for the jets.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
They weren’t client files; they were for family, stuff like birth certificates and house insurance and life insurance and repair bills and receipts for major items like our refrigerator and television and washing machine.
From "It All Comes Down to This" by Karen English
A projected labor shortage of nearly 7,000 certificated mechanics in North America next year is 12% fewer than needed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 26, 2026
The union — which represents 460 certificated staff members across the district — picketed outside several schools early Monday morning, waving signs and leading chants in support of teachers.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 29, 2023
“With the number of requirements and expectations already placed on certificated staff, this is an unreasonable and highly concerning expectation.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 29, 2023
Electric aircraft maker Eve Holding Inc is "on track" to meet its goal of starting commercial operations in 2026, an executive said on Friday, and getting its aircraft certificated is the most immediate target.
From Reuters ● Feb. 17, 2023
This money must be paid and its genuineness certificated upon the honor of the United States by the Secretaries of State and of the Treasury.
From A Republic Without a President and Other Stories by Ward, Herbert D. (Herbert Dickinson)
It would seem that full local control was given except in the matter of certificating teachers and regulating the government grant.
From Egerton Ryerson and Education in Upper Canada by Putnam, J. Harold
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.
