English Reference
adjective

accredited

adj.
US /əˈkɹɛdɪtɪd/ UK /ɐkɹˈɛdɪtɪd/ ac·cred·it·ed

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate AcademicFormal

    having official approval from an organisation that checks quality.

    officially recognised or authorised by an external governing body after meeting specific criteria.

    Simple

    You should make sure you study at an accredited college so your degree is valid.

    In context

    The hospital lost its accredited status after failing to meet the updated safety protocols required by the national health board.

    Usage

    Often used before a noun to describe institutions like schools, hospitals, or laboratories.

    Teacher's tip

    In professional contexts, this word is stronger than 'recognised' because it implies a formal audit or inspection has taken place.

    unrecognisedunauthorised

The Lycett Arms is a real east London pub, open for just one hour a week, which required Lycett to train to be accredited with a level 2 award for personal licence holders.

The Guardian· 28 Aug 2026

This will be followed by a four-hours of practical training at an accredited school.

The Local· 10 Aug 2022

Etymology 1

* accredit + -ed * From the French accréditer. * See credit.

Etymology 2

* First attested in the 1630s.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated