Related formsnon·cer·ti·fied, adjectiveun·cer·ti·fied, adjectivewell-cer·ti·fied, adjective
certify
[sur-tuh-fahy]
verb (used with object),cer·ti·fied,cer·ti·fy·ing.
to attest as certain; give reliable information of; confirm: He certified the truth of his claim.
to testify to or vouch for in writing: The medical examiner will certify his findings to the court.
to guarantee; endorse reliably: to certify a document with an official seal.
to guarantee (a check) by writing on its face that the account against which it is drawn has sufficient funds to pay it.
to award a certificate to (a person) attesting to the completion of a course of study or the passing of a qualifying examination.
to declare legally insane and committable to a mental institution.
Archaic. to assure or inform with certainty.
verb (used without object),cer·ti·fied,cer·ti·fy·ing.
to give assurance; testify; vouch for the validity of something (usually followed by to).
Origin of certify
1300–50;Middle Englishcertifien < Middle Frenchcertifier < Late Latincertificāre, equivalent to Latincerti- (combining form of certus decided; see certain) + -ficāre-fy
Related formscer·ti·fi·er, nounpre·cer·ti·fy, verb (used with object),pre·cer·ti·fied,pre·cer·ti·fy·ing.re·cer·ti·fy, verb (used with object),re·cer·ti·fied,re·cer·ti·fy·ing.un·cer·ti·fy·ing, adjective
mid-14c., "to declare the truth of," also "to vouch for or confirm" (an official record, etc.), from Old French certefiier "make certain, witness the truth of" (12c.), from Late Latin certificare "to certify, to make certain," from Latin certus (see certain) + root of facere "to make, do" (see factitious). Also used in Middle English in broader senses of "inform, give notice; instruct, to direct; to designate." Related: Certified; certifying. Certified public accountant attested from 1896.
