certifiable

[sur-tuh-fahy-uh-buh l, sur-tuh-fahy-]

adjective

capable of being certified.

legally committable to a mental institution.

Sometimes Facetious. fit or ready for an insane asylum.

uncontrollable; insane: a certifiable desire.

Origin of certifiable

First recorded in 1840–50; certify + -able

Related formscer·ti·fi·a·ble·ness, nouncer·ti·fi·a·bly, adverbun·cer·ti·fi·a·ble, adjectiveun·cer·ti·fi·a·bly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for certifiably

certifiable

adjective

capable of being certified

fit to be certified as insane

Derived Formscertifiably, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for certifiably

certifiable

adj.

1846, from certify + -able. Meaning "so deranged as to be certifiably insane" is recorded from 1912.

Medicine definitions for certifiably

certifiable

[sûr′tə-fī′ə-bəl]

adj.

That can or must be certified. Used of infectious, industrial, and other diseases that are required by law to be reported to health authorities.

Relating to or being a person showing disordered behavior of sufficient gravity to justify involuntary mental hospitalization.