accredit

American  

[uh-kred-it] / əˈkrɛd ɪt /

verb (used with object)

1. to provide or send with credentials; designate officially.

   to accredit an envoy.

2. to certify (a school, college, or the like) as meeting all formal official requirements of academic excellence, curriculum, facilities, etc.

3. to make authoritative, creditable, or reputable; sanction.

4. to regard as true; believe.

5. to ascribe or attribute to (usually followed bywith ).

   He was accredited with having said it.

6. to attribute or ascribe; consider as belonging.

   an invention accredited to Edison.

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accredit British  

/ əˈkrɛdɪt /

verb

1. to ascribe or attribute

2. to give official recognition to; sanction; authorize

3. to certify or guarantee as meeting required standards

4. 1. to furnish or send (an envoy, etc) with official credentials

   2. to appoint (someone) as an envoy, etc

5. to pass (a candidate) for university entrance on school recommendation without external examination

   there are six accrediting schools in the area

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Other Word Forms

• accreditable adjective
• accreditation noun
• preaccredit verb (used with object)
• reaccredit verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of accredit

First recorded in 1610–20; earlier acredit, from Middle French acrediter; ac-, credit

Example Sentences

Many of these private marketplaces allow only accredited investors to buy and trade shares.

From MarketWatch

Many institutional accreditors oversee colleges and universities nationwide, and many state teacher licensing authorities recognize multiple accrediting bodies for training programs.

From The Wall Street Journal

For years, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, which accredits M.D.-granting programs, required medical schools to establish programs “aimed at achieving diversity.”

From The Wall Street Journal

What would be really valuable is if these private, high-cost, higher-learning institutions partner and brand themselves with two-year trade schools to create even better, accredited programs for the trades—which are sorely lacking today.

From The Wall Street Journal

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says it believes hospitals and accredited birth centers are the safest settings for childbirth.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• appoint
• authorize
• certify
• empower
• entrust