certificate
Americannoun
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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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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
- certificatory adjective
- noncertificated adjective
- uncertificated adjective
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- ( certify ) + -ātus -ate 1
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.
It relied on tax residency certificates issued by Mauritius, which had traditionally been accepted as sufficient proof to claim treaty benefits.
From BBC
She saw a colleague get kudos on Slack for completing a certificate program and, having earned the same certificate, wanted similar recognition on the messaging app used by her company.
There’s a coupon for carpet cleaning, Boo’s birth certificate, which says Bridget Chesley—a mistake…she’s a Hooperman just like me—and a bunch of photos and stuff.
From Literature
Fifa investigators said the grandparents' original birth certificates showed they had been born in countries like Argentina and Spain - all corresponding with the players' birthplaces.
From BBC
“These records can be important for understanding inherited health conditions or for legal purposes. Personal documents such as birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates and divorce decrees should be kept indefinitely.”
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.
