certify

American  

[sur-tuh-fahy] / ˈsɜr təˌfaɪ /

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.

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verb (used without object)

certified, certifying

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

certify British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

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

Explanation

To certify is to provide proof for something or to license someone, like a lawyer. You can certify a lawyer or certify that someone’s insane. Either way, when you certify something, you make it official. To certify is to have evidence that something is true, to make certain. If you certify that you own a house, you prove it's yours. Vouching for a friend can certify that the friend is a good person. Professionals like lawyers, doctors, and accountants must be certified. Being certified assures others that the person is qualified. Certify also refers to declaring someone legally insane, so make sure your doctor is certified by the medical board, not the loony bin.

Example Sentences

Certify spokesperson Jasmine Neisser said the system does not alter high temperatures but does set a minimum temperature level that will return a 96 degree reading if the scan fails.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 8, 2021

Representatives of the tested companies Certify, Dahua, Meridian and ZKTeco disputed the findings, saying their systems don’t manipulate temperature readings but in some cases use software techniques to “self-calibrate” to their environment.

From Washington Post • Mar. 5, 2021

Lyft was ranked as the sixth-most expensed brand last year, behind companies including Starbucks and Delta Air Lines, according to Certify, which based the ranking on more than 50 million expenses filed in North America.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 1, 2019

But one recent study compiled by Certify revealed that Uber accounted for 43 percent of all ground transportation expenses filed by business travelers in the first quarter of 2016.

From Slate • Aug. 9, 2016

This is to Certify, to whomsoever it may concern, That the Bearer hereof That was where I had to write my name.

From "Chains" by Laurie Halse Anderson

Related Words

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