an official document attesting the truth of the facts stated, as of birth, marital status, death, health, completion of an academic course, ability to practise a profession, etc
- (transitive)
to authorize by or present with an official document
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
cer•tif•i•cate /sɚˈtɪfɪkɪt/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- Lawa written document that gives proof that something is true:She received a certificate from the London School of Economics.
cer•tif•i•cate
(n. sər tif′i kit;v. sər tif′i kāt′),USA pronunciation n., v., -cat•ed, -cat•ing.
n.
v.t.
cer•tif•i•ca•to•ry
(sər tif′ə ki tôr′ē, -tōr′ē),USA pronunciation adj.
n.
- a document serving as evidence or as written testimony, as of status, qualifications, privileges, or the truth of something.
- Educationa document attesting to the fact that a person has completed an educational course, issued either by an institution not authorized to grant diplomas, or to a student not qualifying for a diploma.
- Lawa statement, written and signed, which is by law made evidence of the truth of the facts stated, for all or for certain purposes.
- Banking, Business[Finance.]
- See gold certificate.
- See silver certificate.
v.t.
- to furnish with or authorize by a certificate.
- to issue an official certificate attesting to the training, aptitude, and qualification of:to certificate a teacher.
- Medieval Latin certificātum, noun, nominal use of neuter of certificātus certified (past participle of certificāre), equivalent. to certific- (see certify) + -ātus -ate1
- late Middle English certificat 1375–1425
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