adj · det · name · pron · 17 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈsɜː.tən/
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈsɜː.tn̩/
Canada, General-American:/ˈsɝ.tən/
Canada, General-American:/ˈsɝ.tn̩/
Canada, General-American:/ˈsɝ.ʔn̩/
Canada:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)tən
CMU ARPABET:S ER1 T AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Sure in one's mind, positive; absolutely confident in the truth of something.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
I was certain of my decision.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Not to be doubted or denied; established as a fact.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Now that more experiments have been run, the theory is certain and the argument is settled.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Sure to happen, inevitable; assured.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
It is certain that Spain will reach the finals. / Spain is now certain to reach the finals. / Spain is now certain of a place in the finals.
Bankruptcy is the certain outcome of your constant gambling and lending.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Unfailing; infallible.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adj
Meaning 5
Fixed; regular; determinate.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
at certain intervals
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
adj
Meaning 6
Particular and definite, but unspecified or unnamed; used to introduce someone or something without going into further detail.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Every wine has a certain distinctive character which sets it apart from all others.
Each morning, she would see a certain man rush past her window on his way to work.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
adj
Meaning 7
Used to denote that the speaker is referring to a specific person or thing that they do not want to name directly, implying that the listener should infer the identity of the referent.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: euphemistic
Qualifier: preceded by "a"
Examples
I would have been here on time, but a certain someone lost the car keys!
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
adj
Meaning 8
Named but not previously mentioned.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: preceded by "a"
Examples
Looking inside the cover, they learned that the book had once belonged to a certain R. Jones.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: one
Antonyms: none provided
9
adj
Meaning 9
Used before the name of someone famous that people are expected to know.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: preceded by "a"
Examples
Since the last British government to make such a proposal was that of a certain Margaret Thatcher, it might not seem unreasonable.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: one
Antonyms: none provided
10
adj
Meaning 10
Determined; resolved.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
11
det
Meaning 11
Having been determined but not specified.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Certain people are good at running.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
12
name
Meaning 12
A surname.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
13
pron
Meaning 13
Unnamed or undescribed members (of).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: with-of
Examples
She mentioned a series of contracts, of which certain are not cited.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: some
Antonyms: none provided
14
adjective
Meaning 14
certain to occur; destined or inevitable- Benjamin Franklin
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
he was certain to fail
his fate is certain
In this life nothing is certain but death and taxes
he faced certain death
sudden but sure regret
he is sure to win
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: sure
Antonyms: uncertain
15
adjective
Meaning 15
established irrevocably
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
his fate is sealed
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: sealed
Antonyms: none provided
16
adjective satellite
Meaning 16
exercising or taking care great enough to bring assurance
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
be certain to disconnect the iron when you are through
be sure to lock the doors
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: sure
Antonyms: none provided
17
adjective satellite
Meaning 17
reliable in operation or effect
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
a quick and certain remedy
a sure way to distinguish the two
wood dust is a sure sign of termites
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: sure
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Middle English certeyn, certein, certain, borrowed from Old French certain, from a Vulgar Latin unattested form *certānus, extended form of Latin certus (“fixed, resolved, certain”), of the same origin as cretus, past participle of cernere (“to separate, perceive, decide”). Displaced native Middle English wis, iwis (“certain, sure”) (from Old English ġewiss (“certain, sure”)) and alternative Middle English spelling sertane (“some, certain”).
Across languages
Translations
211 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
أَكِيد
(ʔakīd)
— sure, positive, not doubting
Arabic:
مُتَأَكِّد
(mutaʔakkid)
— sure, positive, not doubting
Armenian:
հաստատուն
(hastatun)
— sure, positive, not doubting
Asturian:
ciertu
— sure, positive, not doubting
Azerbaijani:
əmin
— sure, positive, not doubting
Belarusian:
упэ́ўнены
(upéwnjeny)
— sure, positive, not doubting
Belarusian:
пэ́ўны
(péwny)
— sure, positive, not doubting
Bulgarian:
си́гурен
(síguren)
— sure, positive, not doubting
Bulgarian:
уве́рен
(uvéren)
— sure, positive, not doubting
Catalan:
cert
— sure, positive, not doubting
Chamicuro:
akachelo'ta
— sure, positive, not doubting
Chinese Mandarin:
肯定
(kěndìng)
— sure, positive, not doubting
Chinese Mandarin:
確切 /确切
(quèqiè)
— sure, positive, not doubting
Chinese Mandarin:
一定
(yīdìng)
— sure, positive, not doubting
Czech:
jistý
— sure, positive, not doubting
Danish:
sikker
— sure, positive, not doubting
Dutch:
zeker
— sure, positive, not doubting
Esperanto:
certa
— sure, positive, not doubting
Finnish:
varma
— sure, positive, not doubting
French:
certain
— sure, positive, not doubting
Friulian:
ciert
— sure, positive, not doubting
Friulian:
sigûr
— sure, positive, not doubting
Friulian:
positîv
— sure, positive, not doubting
Georgian:
უეჭველი
(ueč̣veli)
— sure, positive, not doubting
Georgian:
უდავო
(udavo)
— sure, positive, not doubting
German:
gewiss
— sure, positive, not doubting
German:
sicher
— sure, positive, not doubting
Old High German:
giwis
— sure, positive, not doubting
Greek:
βέβαιος
(vévaios)
— sure, positive, not doubting
Ancient Greek:
ἔμπεδος
(émpedos)
— sure, positive, not doubting
Hindi:
निश्चित
(niścit)
— sure, positive, not doubting
Hungarian:
biztos
— sure, positive, not doubting
Hungarian:
bizonyos
— sure, positive, not doubting
Icelandic:
viss
— sure, positive, not doubting
Icelandic:
öruggur
— sure, positive, not doubting
Ido:
certa
— sure, positive, not doubting
Irish:
cinnte
— sure, positive, not doubting
Irish:
dearfa
— sure, positive, not doubting
Irish:
deimhin
— sure, positive, not doubting
Istriot:
sierto
— sure, positive, not doubting
Italian:
certo
— sure, positive, not doubting
Italian:
sicuro
— sure, positive, not doubting
Japanese:
確か
(tashika)
— sure, positive, not doubting
Japanese:
一定
(ittei)
— sure, positive, not doubting
Japanese:
定か
(sadaka)
— sure, positive, not doubting
Japanese:
特定の
(tokutei no)
— sure, positive, not doubting
Khmer:
ជាក់លាក់
(cĕəklĕək)
— sure, positive, not doubting
Korean:
확실하다
(hwaksilhada)
— sure, positive, not doubting
Ladin:
cert
— sure, positive, not doubting
Ladin:
cërt
— sure, positive, not doubting
Latin:
certus
— sure, positive, not doubting
Latin:
fidus
— sure, positive, not doubting
Macedonian:
сигурен
(siguren)
— sure, positive, not doubting
Macedonian:
уверен
(uveren)
— sure, positive, not doubting
Maltese:
ċert
— sure, positive, not doubting
Māori:
taketake
— sure, positive, not doubting
Norwegian:
sikker
— sure, positive, not doubting
Norwegian:
viss
— sure, positive, not doubting
Occitan:
cèrt
— sure, positive, not doubting
Odia:
ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦିଷ୍ଟ
(nirddiṣṭa)
— sure, positive, not doubting
Old English:
gewiss
— sure, positive, not doubting
Plautdietsch:
wess
— sure, positive, not doubting
Polish:
pewny
— sure, positive, not doubting
Portuguese:
certo
— sure, positive, not doubting
Romanian:
cert
— sure, positive, not doubting
Romanian:
anume
— sure, positive, not doubting
Romanian:
sigur
— sure, positive, not doubting
Russian:
уве́ренный
(uvérennyj)
— sure, positive, not doubting
Russian:
определённый
(opredeljónnyj)
— sure, positive, not doubting
Sardinian:
certu
— sure, positive, not doubting
Sardinian:
tzertu
— sure, positive, not doubting
Sardinian:
tzeltu
— sure, positive, not doubting
Scottish Gaelic:
cinnteach
— sure, positive, not doubting
Scottish Gaelic:
deimhinne
— sure, positive, not doubting
Serbo-Croatian:
sȉgūran
— sure, positive, not doubting
Serbo-Croatian:
си̏гӯран
— sure, positive, not doubting
Serbo-Croatian:
у̀верен
— sure, positive, not doubting
Serbo-Croatian:
sȉgūran
— sure, positive, not doubting
Serbo-Croatian:
ùveren
— sure, positive, not doubting
Sicilian:
certu
— sure, positive, not doubting
Slovak:
istý
— sure, positive, not doubting
Slovene:
gotov
— sure, positive, not doubting
Spanish:
(estar) certero / cierto
— sure, positive, not doubting
Swedish:
säker
— sure, positive, not doubting
Tetum:
tebes
— sure, positive, not doubting
Thai:
แน่นอน
(nɛ̂ɛ-nɔɔn)
— sure, positive, not doubting
Turkish:
kesin
— sure, positive, not doubting
Turkish:
emin
— sure, positive, not doubting
Ukrainian:
упе́внений
(upévnenyj)
— sure, positive, not doubting
Ukrainian:
пе́вний
(pévnyj)
— sure, positive, not doubting
Venetan:
çerto
— sure, positive, not doubting
Venetan:
serto
— sure, positive, not doubting
Venetan:
certo
— sure, positive, not doubting
Vietnamese:
chắc chắn
— sure, positive, not doubting
Yiddish:
זיכער
(zikher)
— sure, positive, not doubting
Zazaki:
emel
— sure, positive, not doubting
Zazaki:
qeta
— sure, positive, not doubting
Spanish:
(ser) cierto / certero
— Not to be doubted or denied; established as a fact
Spanish:
impepinable
— Not to be doubted or denied; established as a fact
