certify

[sur-tuh-fahy]

verb (used with object)

certified, certifying 

1. to attest as certain; give reliable information of; confirm.

   He certified the truth of his claim.

   Synonyms: guarantee, validate, verify, corroborate

2. to testify to or vouch for in writing.

   The medical examiner will certify his findings to the court.

3. to guarantee; endorse reliably.

   to certify a document with an official seal.

4. to guarantee (a check) by writing on its face that the account against which it is drawn has sufficient funds to pay it.

5. to award a certificate to (a person) attesting to the completion of a course of study or the passing of a qualifying examination.

6. to declare legally insane and committable to a mental institution.

7. Archaic.,  to assure or inform with certainty.

verb (used without object)

certified, certifying 

1. to give assurance; testify; vouch for the validity of something (usually followed byto ).

certify

/ ˈsɜːtɪˌfaɪ /

verb

1. to confirm or attest (to), usually in writing

   the letter certified her age

2. (tr) to endorse or guarantee (that certain required standards have been met)

3. to give reliable information or assurances

   he certified that it was Walter's handwriting

4. (tr) to declare legally insane

5. (tr) (of a bank) to state in writing on (a cheque) that payment is guaranteed

Other Word Forms

• certifier noun
• precertify verb (used with object)
• recertify verb (used with object)
• uncertifying adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of certify¹

1300–50; Middle English certifien < Middle French certifier < Late Latin certificāre, equivalent to Latin certi- (combining form of certus decided; certain ) + -ficāre -fy

Word History and Origins

Origin of certify¹

C14: from Old French certifier, from Medieval Latin certificāre to make certain, from Latin certus _certain + facere to make

Example Sentences

However, it’s hard to fully escape the algorithm, says Catherine Valega, a certified financial planner and founder of Green Bee Advisory in Boston.

Read more on MarketWatch

In Northern Ireland, anyone offering tourist accommodation must already be certified by Tourism NI.

Read more on BBC

The FAA declined to comment about Reliable’s specific work but noted the agency laid out a pathway for certifying remotely piloted and autonomous aircraft in 2020.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

With a home audit, a certified contractor or auditor assesses your appliances, heating and cooling systems, insulation, lighting and writes up recommendations.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Cheryl Wolf, 57, a certified public accountant in Chicago who moved to the Windy City from Texas, said the aggressive immigration enforcement is unsettling.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• accredit 
• approve 
• ascertain 
• authorize 
• confirm 
• endorse 
• guarantee 
• license 
• notify 
• validate 
• verify