certified check

American  

noun

1. a check bearing a guarantee of payment by the bank on which the check is drawn.

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Etymology

Origin of certified check

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80

Compare meaning

How does certified-check compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• cashier's check vs. certified check
• certified check vs. bank check

Example Sentences

But before they can kidnap her and run away with a certified check, Warbucks gets suspicious and calls up his pal at the FBI — director J. Edgar Hoover, naturally.

From Washington Post • Dec. 3, 2021

Wait, customers could avoid the wire transfer fee if they used a certified check but not if they used a cashier’s check?

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 19, 2021

So I trust I can expect a $100,000 certified check to be overnighted to me care of this newspaper?

From Seattle Times • Feb. 18, 2018

If you want to contribute to a cause, my suggestion is to do so by certified check rather than anything directly traceable to yourself.

From New York Times • Dec. 2, 2017

Ten minutes later, Mr. Nagahachi tells the captain he’ll buy the whole fish for sixteen dollars a pound, cash or certified check.

From "The Young Man and the Sea" by Rodman Philbrick