First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
certify
verb cer·ti·fy \ˈsər-tə-ˌfī\
: to say officially that something is true, correct, or genuine
: to say officially that something or someone has met certain standards or requirements
: to say officially that someone is insane and in need of treatment
cer·ti·fiedcer·ti·fy·ing
Full Definition of CERTIFY
transitive verb
1
: to attest authoritatively: as a : confirm b : to present in formal communication c : to attest as being true or as represented or as meeting a standard d : to attest officially to the insanity of
3
: to guarantee (a personal check) as to signature and amount by so indicating on the face
4
: to recognize as having met special qualifications (as of a governmental agency or professional board) within a field <agencies that certify teachers>
— cer·ti·fi·er \-ˌfī(-ə)r\ noun
See certify defined for English-language learners
See certify defined for kids
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Origin of CERTIFY
Middle English certifien, from Anglo-French certefier, from Late Latin certificare, from Latin certus certain — more at certain
Related to CERTIFY
- Synonyms
- attest, authenticate, avouch, testify (to), vouch (for), witness
- Antonyms
- disqualify
Synonym Discussion of CERTIFY
certify, attest, witness, vouch mean to testify to the truth or genuineness of something. certify usually applies to a written statement, especially one carrying a signature or seal <certified that the candidate had met all requirements>. attest applies to oral or written testimony usually from experts or witnesses <attested to the authenticity of the document>. witness applies to the subscribing of one's own name to a document as evidence of its genuineness <witnessed the signing of the will>. vouch applies to one who testifies as a competent authority or a reliable person <willing to vouch for her integrity>.
synonyms see in addition approve
Rhymes with CERTIFY
abide by, Adonai, alibi, alkali, amplify, apple-pie, argufy, assegai, azo dye, basify, beautify, butterfly, by-and-by, caddis fly, calcify, Chou En-lai, citify, clarify, classify, coalify, cockneyfy, codify, college try, cottage pie, crucify, cut-and-try, cutie-pie, DIY, damnify, damselfly, dandify, deify, densify, dignify, dobsonfly, do-or-die, dragonfly, dulcify, eagle eye, edify, evil eye, falsify, fancify, fortify, frenchify, fructify, gasify, Gemini, gentrify, glorify, goggle-eye, goldeneye, gratify, Haggai, harvest fly, hexerei, high and dry, hip and thigh, Hokusai, hook and eye, horrify, hoverfly, humble pie, Iceni, justify, kiss good-bye, lazy eye, lignify, liquefy, lithify, Lorelei, lullaby, Madurai, magnify, Malachi, Maracay, minify, modify, mollify, Molokai, Mordecai, mortify, multi-ply, multiply, mummify, mystify, nazify, notify, nullify, occupy, old school tie, on standby, on the fly, ossify, overbuy, overfly, overlie, pacify, Paraguay, passerby, peccavi, petrify, PPI, preachify, prettify, private eye, prophesy, purify, putrefy, qualify, quantify, ramify, rarefy, ratify, RBI, rectify, reify, res gestae, robber fly, runner's high, Russify, samurai, sanctify, satisfy, scarify, schwarmerei, semidry, set store by, shepherd's pie, shoofly pie, signify, simplify, Spanish fly, specify, speechify, stratify, stultify, stupefy, sweetie pie, Tenebrae, terrify, testify, tie-and-dye, tigereye, Trans Alai, tumble dry, typify, uglify, underlie, unify, Uruguay, Veneti, verify, versify, vilify, vinify, vitrify, vivify, weather eye, Windsor tie, xanthene dye, yuppify, zombify
CERTIFY Defined for Kids
certify
verb cer·ti·fy \ˈsər-tə-ˌfī\
cer·ti·fiedcer·ti·fy·ing
Definition of CERTIFY for Kids
1
: to show to be true or as claimed by a formal or official statement <Only the teacher can certify test scores.>
2
: to guarantee the quality, fitness, or value of officially <certified milk> <certify a check>
3
: to show to have met certain requirements <His school needs to certify him for graduation.>
Medical Dictionary
certify
verb cer·ti·fy \ˈsərt-ə-ˌfī\
cer·ti·fiedcer·ti·fy·ing
Medical Definition of CERTIFY
transitive verb
1
: to attest authoritatively; especially : to attest officially to the insanity of
2
: to designate as having met the requirements to practice medicine or a particular medical specialty
intransitive verb
: to attest by a certificate <five year program leading to examination by the American Board which certifies in that specialty—Bulletin of Meharry Medical College>
—cer·ti·fi·able \ˌsər-tə-ˈfī-ə-bəl\ adjective
—cer·ti·fi·ably \-blē\ adverb
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