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certified

American  
[sur-tuh-fahyd] / ˈsɜr təˌfaɪd /

adjective

  1. having or proved by a certificate.

    a certified representative.

  2. guaranteed; reliably endorsed.

    a certified check.

  3. legally declared insane.

  4. committed to a mental institution.


certified British  
/ ˈsɜːtɪˌfaɪd /

adjective

  1. holding or guaranteed by a certificate

  2. endorsed or guaranteed

    a certified cheque

  3. (of a person) declared legally insane

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Etymology

Origin of certified

First recorded in 1605–15; certify + -ed 2

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.

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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

Those tests predate modern technology, as many court reporters now use audio recordings as a backup, says Allie Hall, a certified court reporter who runs a training program with about 800 enrollees currently.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 13, 2026

Do not give an adviser withdrawal authority, read everything before signing, and get a lawyer or a certified public accountant to review the contract if necessary.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 11, 2026

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said Friday that the company had certified Micron alongside SK Hynix and Samsung as providers of the latest design of high-bandwidth memory, known as HBM4.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

He was not certified to teach in Arizona, but that did not stop him.

From "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli

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