certification
Americannoun
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the act of certifying.
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the state of being certified.
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a certified statement.
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the writing on the face of a check by which it is certified.
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Law. a certificate attesting the truth of some statement or event.
noun
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the act of certifying or state of being certified
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law a document attesting the truth of a fact or statement
Other Word Forms
- noncertification noun
- precertification noun
- recertification noun
Etymology
Origin of certification
1400–50; late Middle English certificacio ( u ) n < Medieval Latin certificātiōn- (stem of certificātiō ). See certificate, -ion
Explanation
Certification is official proof that something is true or authentic, or the process of obtaining that proof. To work as a life guard, you need certification in both swimming and first aid — and a whole lot of sunscreen. If you want to be an elementary school teacher, you'll need to get certification, which shows you've been tested and found qualified to teach. Likewise, an auto mechanic's certification demonstrates her education and skill at car repair. One element of certification is demonstrating your ability, and the other is obtaining a document (or certificate) so you can prove that ability to other people.
Vocabulary lists containing certification
"Most Dangerous 'Sport' of All May Be Cheerleading"
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for January 5–January 11, 2025
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Are You Ready to Hatch an Unusual Chicken?
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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.
The site shows which communities have received any of its three certification designations.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026
He did not have a commercial licence for carrying passengers, nor the correct certification to fly at night, and his rating to fly the single-engine Piper had expired.
From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026
Italy's Parmesan Reggiano carries the DOP certification to indicate "Protected Designation of Origin", but the name Parmesan is also used by lower-quality competitors abroad.
From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026
I enrolled in a cheesemongering certification course through the UK-based Academy of Cheese and spent months with notecards on curds and whey, then more months learning how to taste with intention.
From Salon • Mar. 25, 2026
“She doesn’t have CPR certification, Kim,” Laura said.
From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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.
