certify
verb
cer·ti·fy
ˈsər-tə-ˌfī 
certified; certifying
1
: to attest authoritatively: such 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
Synonyms
Examples of certify in a Sentence
A judge must certify the contract.
The document has been certified by the court.
The car dealer certifies each car before it is sold.
Has your doctor been certified?
Recent Examples on the Web
In his first major vote, LaTurner voted against certifying the results of the 2020 election.
—
Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 18 Apr. 2024
Carlos Campos said the two seats will be vacated once the City Council certifies the results.
—Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for certify 
Jonathan Shorman, Kansas City Star, 18 Apr. 2024
Carlos Campos said the two seats will be vacated once the City Council certifies the results.
—Hailey Branson-Potts, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for certify
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'certify.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near certify
Cite this Entry
“Certify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/certify. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
certify
verb
cer·ti·fy
ˈsərt-ə-ˌfī
certified; certifying
1
: to guarantee to be true or valid or as claimed or meeting a standard
2
: to recognize as having met special qualifications within a field
certify teachers
certifiable
adjective
-ˌfī-ə-bəl
certification
noun
ˌsərt-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən
Medical Definition
certify
verb
cer·ti·fy
ˈsərt-ə-ˌfī
certified; certifying
1
: to attest authoritatively
especially
: to attest officially to the mental illness of
2
: to designate as having met the requirements to practice medicine or a particular medical specialty
: 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
Bulletin of Meharry Medical College
certifiable
adjective
ˈsər-tə-ˌfī-ə-bəl, ˌsər-tə-ˈfī-
Legal Definition
certify
transitive verb
cer·ti·fy
ˈsər-tə-ˌfī
certified; certifying
1
: to state authoritatively: as
a
: to give assurance of the validity of
certify corporate records
b
: to present in formal communication (as an order) especially for review by an appellate court
the court may certify the question to the Supreme Judicial Court—R. T. Gerwatowski
see also certification
R. T. Gerwatowski
c
: to state as being true or as reported or as meeting a standard
refused to certify the suit as a class action and dismissed it—Marcia Coyle
Marcia Coyle2
: to guarantee (a personal check) as to signature and amount by so indicating (as by stamping certified) on the face see also certified check at check
3
a
b
: to designate (a labor union) as an exclusive bargaining agent or representative
Etymology
Medieval Latin certificare, from Late Latin, to assure, convince, from Latin certus certain + -ficare to make
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