certify

[sur-tuh-fahy]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR certify ON THESAURUS.COM

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 English certifien < Middle French certifier < Late Latin certificāre, equivalent to Latin certi- (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

Synonyms for certify

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR certify ON THESAURUS.COM

1. corroborate, verify, validate, guarantee.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for certify

authorize, license, confirm, verify, ascertain, notify, endorse, validate, guarantee, approve, accredit, state, attest, authenticate, okay, avow, show, reassure, testify, corroborate

Examples from the Web for certify

Contemporary Examples of certify

In order to withhold the photographs, the secretary of defense must certify that photographs could cause harm to Americans.
The Detainee Abuse Photos Obama Didn’t Want You To See
Noah Shachtman, Tim Mak
December 15, 2014
The FAA will have to certify SpaceShipTwo as airworthy, but there are as yet no protocols in place for that process.
Tycoons in Space: One in Orbit and One Still Grounded
Clive Irving
October 5, 2014
The decision to certify the planes and their sensors has been pending since late last year, long before the Ukraine crisis began.
Pentagon Moves to Block Russian Spy Plane in American Skies
Eli Lake
April 18, 2014
The first is how the FAA can certify the craft as safe for passenger flight.
Branson’s Galactic Obstacles: Tom Bower Puts a Damper on Virgin’s Space Flight Dreams
Clive Irving
January 30, 2014
The folks from RecordSetter.com were there, the hosts told the hopeful twerkers, to adjudicate and certify the world record.
Scandal in Twerktown: Big Freedia’s Twerking World Record Challenged
Brian Ries
September 26, 2013

Historical Examples of certify

"That he is actually off by the train to London, I can certify," was the reply of Hamish.
The Channings
Mrs. Henry Wood
We could procure that telegram from Port Arthur, and we could get the landlord to certify to his story.
Australia Revenged
Boomerang
Should not we cautiously open it, Captain, and certify ourselves what is therein?
Standish of Standish
Jane G. Austin
I have only to get two doctors to certify to the fact of his insanity, and the deed is done.
A Master of Mysteries
L. T. Meade
An invoice of his goods was presented to the agent, who had to certify to its correctness.
Old Fort Snelling
Marcus L. Hansen

British Dictionary definitions for certify

certify

verb -fies, -fying or -fied

to confirm or attest (to), usually in writingthe letter certified her age

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

to give reliable information or assuranceshe certified that it was Walter's handwriting

(tr) to declare legally insane

(tr) US and Canadian (of a bank) to state in writing on (a cheque) that payment is guaranteed

Derived Formscertifier, noun

Word Origin for certify

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

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

Word Origin and History for certify

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.