B2 adjective Neutral

certificate

/səˈtɪf.ɪ.kət/

An official document that attests to a specific fact, achievement, or qualification. It is used as formal evidence to prove that a person has completed a course, possesses certain skills, or that a legal event like birth or marriage has occurred.

Examples

3 of 5
1

I need to find my birth certificate to apply for a new passport.

I must locate the official document recording my birth for my passport application.

2

All applicants must submit a medical certificate signed by a registered practitioner.

Every candidate is required to provide a doctor's document confirming their health status.

3

I just got my certificate for finishing the three-day coding bootcamp!

I finally received the document showing I completed the short intensive programming course.

Word Family

Noun
certificate
Verb
certify
Adjective
certified
Related
certification
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Memory Tip

Think of the 'cert' in 'certain'. A certificate makes it 'certain' that you have the skills or the background you claim to have.

Quick Quiz

To prove you finished the training, you must provide a ____ of attendance.

Correct!

The correct answer is: certificate

Examples

1

I need to find my birth certificate to apply for a new passport.

everyday

I must locate the official document recording my birth for my passport application.

2

All applicants must submit a medical certificate signed by a registered practitioner.

formal

Every candidate is required to provide a doctor's document confirming their health status.

3

I just got my certificate for finishing the three-day coding bootcamp!

informal

I finally received the document showing I completed the short intensive programming course.

4

The university offers a certificate program in Environmental Management for post-graduates.

academic

The college provides a specific qualification course in managing the environment for advanced students.

5

The company was awarded a certificate of excellence for its safety record last year.

business

The firm received a formal award document for maintaining high safety standards over the past year.

Word Family

Noun
certificate
Verb
certify
Adjective
certified
Related
certification

Common Collocations

birth certificate a legal document recording the date and place of a person's birth
medical certificate a written statement from a physician attesting to a person's health
certificate of completion a document awarded after finishing a specific training or course
gift certificate a voucher worth a certain amount of money used for purchasing goods
marriage certificate an official document proving that two people are legally married

Common Phrases

certificate of deposit

a financial product commonly offered to consumers by banks

death certificate

an official document stating the time, place, and cause of a person's death

share certificate

a document certifying that a person is the registered owner of shares in a company

Often Confused With

certificate vs certification

Certification is the overall process or status of being authorized, while a certificate is the physical document awarded.

certificate vs diploma

A diploma usually signifies completion of a degree or long-term study, whereas a certificate can be for much shorter programs.

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Usage Notes

While 'certificate' is primarily a noun, it is frequently used as an attributive noun (acting like an adjective) in phrases like 'certificate course' or 'certificate program'.

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Common Mistakes

Learners often use 'certificate' as a verb. For example, 'I need to certificate this document' is incorrect; the verb form is 'certify'.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of the 'cert' in 'certain'. A certificate makes it 'certain' that you have the skills or the background you claim to have.

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Word Origin

Derived from the Middle French 'certificat', which comes from the Medieval Latin 'certificare', meaning 'to make certain'.

Grammar Patterns

Countable noun (plural: certificates) Used with verbs like 'award', 'issue', 'grant', 'obtain', or 'receive' Functions as an attributive noun in compound phrases
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Cultural Context

In many professional cultures, certificates are proudly displayed in offices as a sign of expertise and trustworthiness.

Quick Quiz

To prove you finished the training, you must provide a ____ of attendance.

Correct!

The correct answer is: certificate

Related Words

syngravent

C1

To formally reach a collective agreement or to consolidate disparate ideas into a singular, authoritative consensus through deliberation. It is typically used in academic or high-level professional contexts to describe the synthesis of various perspectives into a unified stance.

homoaltersion

C1

To systematically modify a component or individual within a group so that it aligns identically with the properties of its counterparts. It describes the act of enforcing homogeneity through specific, calculated adjustments to maintain structural consistency.

homogratacy

C1

To achieve a state of collective agreement or uniform satisfaction within a group by aligning interests or expressing mutual gratitude. It involves the process of harmonizing conflicting viewpoints into a single, mutually pleasing outcome.

multipatership

C1

Multipatership refers to the biological phenomenon where a single litter or brood of offspring is sired by more than one father. In sociology, it describes the state of a woman having children with multiple different partners, often referred to as multi-partnered fertility.

periluddom

C1

A noun referring to the state or environment of anticipation and ritualized preparation that occurs just before a competitive event, game, or performance. It encompasses the collective psychological atmosphere and physical activities shared by participants and spectators before the main action begins.

circummentcy

C1

The act or state of bypassing restrictions, rules, or obstacles through strategic maneuvering or the exploitation of loopholes. It refers specifically to the quality of being able to find indirect routes to achieve a goal while avoiding direct confrontation with a system.

adcedent

C1

Describing a person, entity, or state that is in the process of acceding to an existing agreement, treaty, or organization. It refers to the act of joining or consenting to be bound by terms previously established by others.

misvalness

C1

To incorrectly estimate or judge the intrinsic worth or significance of something, particularly by failing to recognize its true essence or state. It refers to the act of assigning a wrong value to an object or concept based on a misunderstanding of its fundamental nature.

homotactible

C1

Describing objects, surfaces, or body parts that are sensitive to touch in an identical way or occupy the same position in a tactile arrangement. It is a technical term used to compare sensory perception across different areas or specimens.

repatible

C1

To officially return a person, such as a refugee or prisoner of war, or an object like currency or cultural artifacts, to their country of origin. This verb is primarily used in legal, political, and financial contexts regarding international borders and national belonging.

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