CERTIFY (certified)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected form: certified   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does certify mean? 

• CERTIFY (verb)
  The verb CERTIFY has 5 senses:

1. provide evidence for; stand as proof of; show by one's behavior, attitude, or external attributes

2. guarantee payment on; of checks

3. authorize officially

4. guarantee as meeting a certain standard

5. declare legally insane

  Familiarity information: CERTIFY used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CERTIFY (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they certify    ... he / she / it certifies   
Past simple: certified   
Past participle: certified   
-ing form: certifying   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Provide evidence for; stand as proof of; show by one's behavior, attitude, or external attributes

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

attest; certify; demonstrate; evidence; manifest

Context example:

This decision demonstrates his sense of fairness

Hypernyms (to "certify" is one way to...):

bear witness; evidence; prove; show; testify (provide evidence for)

Verb group:

attest (establish or verify the usage of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "certify"):

authenticate (establish the authenticity of something)

reflect (give evidence of the quality of)

reflect (give evidence of a certain behavior)

notarise; notarize (authenticate as a notary)

condemn (demonstrate the guilt of (someone))

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sentence example:

They certify that there was a traffic accident

Derivation:

certification (confirmation that some fact or statement is true through the use of documentary evidence)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Guarantee payment on; of checks

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Hypernyms (to "certify" is one way to...):

secure (assure payment of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

certificate (a formal declaration that documents a fact of relevance to finance and investment; the holder has a right to receive interest or dividends)

certification (validating the authenticity of something or someone)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Authorize officially

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

certify; licence; license

Context example:

I am licensed to practice law in this state

Hypernyms (to "certify" is one way to...):

authorise; authorize; clear; pass (grant authorization or clearance for)

"Certify" entails doing...:

approve; O.K.; okay; sanction (give sanction to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "certify"):

franchise (grant a franchise to)

charter (grant a charter to)

accredit; recognise; recognize (grant credentials to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE

Antonym:

decertify (cause to be no longer approved or accepted)

Derivation:

certification (validating the authenticity of something or someone)

certification (the act of certifying or bestowing a franchise on)

certification (a document attesting to the truth of certain stated facts)

certificatory (serving to certify or endorse authoritatively)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Guarantee as meeting a certain standard

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

certify; endorse; indorse

Context example:

certified grade AAA meat

Hypernyms (to "certify" is one way to...):

guarantee; warrant (stand behind and guarantee the quality, accuracy, or condition of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Derivation:

certifiable (capable of being guaranteed or certified)

certificate (a document attesting to the truth of certain stated facts)

certification (validating the authenticity of something or someone)

certification (the act of certifying or bestowing a franchise on)

certification (a document attesting to the truth of certain stated facts)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Declare legally insane

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "certify" is one way to...):

adjudge; declare; hold (declare to be)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

certifiable (fit to be certified as insane (and treated accordingly))

 Context examples 

A document earned by a person indicating that the person has specific knowledge, skills, or abilities in the view of a certifying body.

(Certificate, NCI Thesaurus)

A certified speech language pathologist who is board recognized as an expert in swallowing disorders.

(Board Recognized Specialist - Swallowing, NCI Thesaurus)

The process by which a person demonstrates specific knowledge, skills, or abilities in the view of a certifying body.

(Certification, NCI Thesaurus)

A person who has a license that gives them the legal power to witness the signing of documents, to certify that documents are real, and to take statements made under oath.

(Notary public, NCI Dictionary)

A document certifying the successful completion of a course of study.

(Diploma, NCI Thesaurus)

Also called board certified oncology pharmacy specialist and oncology pharmacy specialist.

(BCOP, NCI Dictionary)

APNs are licensed at the state level and certified by national nursing organizations.

(APN, NCI Dictionary)

Ten minutes were enough to certify that.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Advanced practice nurses are licensed at the state level and certified by national nursing organizations.

(Advanced practice nurse, NCI Dictionary)

I know, and you know, and the other doctor who attended her knows, that Mrs. Westenra had disease of the heart, and we can certify that she died of it.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)