Standard Lemma guide

certify

verb · 10 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.tɪ.faɪ/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Canada, General-American: /ˈsɝ.tɪ.faɪ/
  • Canada, General-American: [ˈsɝ.ɾɪ.faɪ]
  • Australian: /ˈsɜː.tɪ.fɑe/
  • Australian: [ˈsɜː.ɾɪ.fɑe̯]
  • New-Zealand: /ˈsøː.tə.fɑe/
  • New-Zealand: [ˈsøː.ɾə.fɑe̯]
  • CMU ARPABET: S ER1 T AH0 F AY2 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To attest to (a fact) as the truth.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To authenticate or verify in writing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: law

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To attest that a product, service, organization, or person has met an official standard.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • These blankets have been certified as fireproof.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To inform; to tell (a person) that something is true.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To assure (oneself) of something; to ascertain.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic, reflexive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

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

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • His high fever attested to his illness
  • The buildings in Rome manifest a high level of architectural sophistication
  • This decision demonstrates his sense of fairness

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: attest, manifest, demonstrate, evidence

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: testify, bear witness, prove, evidence, show

Narrower terms: authenticate, reflect, notarize, notarise, condemn

7

verb

Meaning 7

declare legally insane

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: declare, adjudge, hold

8

verb

Meaning 8

guarantee payment on; of checks

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: secure

9

verb

Meaning 9

authorize officially

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • I am licensed to practice law in this state

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: license, licence

Antonyms: decertify

Broader terms: authorize, authorise, pass, clear

Narrower terms: franchise, charter, accredit, recognize, recognise

10

verb

Meaning 10

guarantee as meeting a certain standard

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • certified grade AAA meat

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: endorse, indorse

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: guarantee, warrant

History

Etymology

From Old French certefier (“confirm, assure, make certain”). Compare French certifier.

Across languages

Translations

39 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: удостоверявам (udostoverjavam) — to attest as to
  • Bulgarian: свидетелствам (svidetelstvam) — to attest as to
  • Bulgarian: потвърждавам (potvǎrždavam) — to attest as to
  • Chinese Mandarin: 證明 /证明 (zhèngmíng) — to attest as to
  • Esperanto: certigi — to attest as to
  • Finnish: todistaa — to attest as to
  • French: certifier — to attest as to
  • German: zertifizieren — to attest as to
  • Greek: πιστοποιώ (pistopoió) — to attest as to
  • Hebrew: וידא (vidé) — to attest as to
  • Ido: certigar — to attest as to
  • Italian: certificare — to attest as to
  • Japanese: 認証する (ninshō suru) — to attest as to
  • Korean: 인증하다 (injeunghada) — to attest as to
  • Manx: shickyree — to attest as to
  • Māori: tiwhikete — to attest as to
  • Portuguese: certificar — to attest as to
  • Romanian: certifica — to attest as to
  • Russian: удостоверя́ть (udostoverjátʹ) — to attest as to
  • Russian: удостове́рить (udostovéritʹ) — to attest as to
  • Russian: заверя́ть (zaverjátʹ) — to attest as to
  • Russian: заве́рить (zavéritʹ) — to attest as to
  • Russian: подтвержда́ть (podtverždátʹ) — to attest as to
  • Russian: подтверди́ть (podtverdítʹ) — to attest as to
  • Russian: свиде́тельствовать (svidételʹstvovatʹ) — to attest as to
  • Russian: освиде́тельствовать (osvidételʹstvovatʹ) — to attest as to
  • Russian: засвиде́тельствовать (zasvidételʹstvovatʹ) — to attest as to
  • Spanish: certificar — to attest as to
  • Telugu: ధ్రువీకరించు (dhruvīkariñcu) — to attest as to
  • Ukrainian: сві́дчити (svídčyty) — to attest as to
  • Ukrainian: засві́дчувати (zasvídčuvaty) — to attest as to
  • Ukrainian: засві́дчити (zasvídčyty) — to attest as to
  • Ukrainian: завіря́ти (zavirjáty) — to attest as to
  • Ukrainian: заві́рити (zavíryty) — to attest as to
  • Ukrainian: посві́дчувати (posvídčuvaty) — to attest as to
  • Ukrainian: посві́дчити (posvídčyty) — to attest as to
  • Polish: certyfikować — to attest that a product, service, organization, or person has met an official standard
  • Russian: сертифици́ровать (sertificírovatʹ) — to attest that a product, service, organization, or person has met an official standard
  • Ukrainian: сертифікува́ти (sertyfikuváty) — to attest that a product, service, organization, or person has met an official standard