certified
Americanadjective
-
having or proved by a certificate.
a certified representative.
-
guaranteed; reliably endorsed.
a certified check.
-
legally declared insane.
-
committed to a mental institution.
adjective
-
holding or guaranteed by a certificate
-
endorsed or guaranteed
a certified cheque
-
(of a person) declared legally insane
Other Word 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.
Piker’s mother unwinds on a recliner in the living room, watching her son’s stream on a wall-filling television, when El-Sayed’s race is certified.
From Slate ● Nov. 4, 2026
The changes are certified as urgent, allowing them to be debated and voted on quickly, and they are expected to easily pass later on Wednesday by the legislature dominated by the ruling People's Action Party.
From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2026
The results are then certified state-wide, usually by a state canvassing board of the secretary of state.
From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026
“It was still certified to fly in certain conditions, but those conditions may have been exceeded,” he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026
He worked in the barbershop for a while, then got a job working for Free Venture, an environmentally certified nonprofit that refurbishes and recycles e-waste on-site.
From "The 57 Bus" by Dashka Slater
![]()
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.