certified
Americanadjective
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having or proved by a certificate.
a certified representative.
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guaranteed; reliably endorsed.
a certified check.
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legally declared insane.
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committed to a mental institution.
adjective
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holding or guaranteed by a certificate
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endorsed or guaranteed
a certified cheque
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(of a person) declared legally insane
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of certified
Explanation
If you've met a certain standard or proven that you're qualified for some specific job or task, you're certified. Most schools hire only certified teachers. In order for a person to become certified, there is usually some sort of test or review. A certified accountant has proven that she knows how to prepare tax forms and other financial records by taking classes and an exam. A certified diver has trained to use scuba gear and dive to a certain depth in the ocean, and demonstrated this ability. When you're certified in some way, you often receive a certificate, a document that proves it.
Vocabulary lists containing certified
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.
“Most people think of retirement risk in terms of market crashes,” said Jeff Judge, a certified financial planner in Forest Hill, Md. “Healthcare is the one that actually derails the most plans I’ve seen.”
From MarketWatch • Jun. 15, 2026
Last month, one CoPilot user obtained a price quote for a certified preowned Subaru Outback advertised for $41,064.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 15, 2026
Nvidia certified Micron, SK Hynix, and Samsung as HBM4 suppliers, indicating continued reliance on multiple vendors.
From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026
“Sometimes they file an extension because they didn’t start early enough to get organized and gather their 1099s and other forms,” said Jessica Banitt, a Houston-based certified public accountant and certified financial planner.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026
The main building of the middle school and all the buildings of the high school have been certified as “structurally safe” by a team of engineers hastily assembled by Old Charley Burns.
From "Tangerine" by Edward Bloor
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.
