certificate
Americannoun
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certificates
plural
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a document serving as evidence or as written testimony, as of status, qualifications, privileges, or the truth of something.
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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.
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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.
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Finance.
verb (used with object)
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certificates,
present (3rd person singular)
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certificated,
past participle, past
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certificating
present participle
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to furnish with or authorize by a certificate.
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to issue an official certificate attesting to the training, aptitude, and qualification of.
to certificate a teacher.
noun
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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
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short for share certificate
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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certificatesimple
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certificatessimple
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have certificatedperfect
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has certificatedperfect
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am certificatingprogressive
-
are certificatingprogressive
-
is certificatingprogressive
-
have been certificatingperfect progressive
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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
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Week 3 Spelling
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"CLEP Financial Accounting," Vocabulary from Chapter 4
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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:
Paul Reubens’ immediate cause of death was acute hypoxic respiratory failure, says his death certificate obtained by news outlets.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
By building relations with Israel, "they get a sort of kosher certificate," Issacharoff told AFP.
From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026
In 2014, GWR presented him with a certificate for most top 10 hits on the UK singles chart from one album for 18 Months which produced no fewer than nine.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
She delivered the baby and was listed as the mother on the birth certificate, even though she had no genetic connection to the child.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
“If you have compliance from the father, you can apply for a certificate of important information.”
From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri
As a result, “death certificates likely capture only part of the true disease burden,” he says.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 30, 2026
Studies have previously cast doubt on the validity of global centenarian numbers, suggesting data errors, unreliable public records and missing birth certificates may account for elevated figures.
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
In the frantic exit, Marwa had left behind most of her school transcripts and certificates.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026
He said the bills aim to let the colleges help meet unmet workforce needs while keeping “a laser focus” on their core mission of associate degrees, certificates and transfer.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026
I got quotes on airline tickets, solicited local restaurants to donate gift certificates, and my hotel even offered two rooms if she accepted our invitation.
From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers
Next year, the labor shortage is projected to hit nearly 7,000 certificated mechanics in North America, 12% fewer than the industry actually needs, according to the industry report.
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
Nor could the more experienced lieutenants, highly certificated gentlemen from the Liverpool to New York Ferry steamers.
From Captain Macedoine's Daughter by William McFee
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 J. Harold Putnam
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.
