certificate
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.an official paper that proves a fact about a person, like when they were born or married.
n.an official document recording a significant life event or legal fact, such as a birth, marriage, or death.
Simple“You need to show your birth certificate to apply for a new passport.”
In context“The solicitor requested a certified copy of the death certificate to finalise the distribution of the estate.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
n.a document you receive for completing a course of study or passing an exam.
n.a document confirming that a person has successfully completed a specific course of study or passed a professional examination.
Simple“She received a certificate in web design after finishing the six-month course.”
In context“Candidates who successfully complete the advanced module will be awarded a professional certificate recognised by the national board.”
Synonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a digital file that proves a website or computer is safe and who they say they are.
n.an electronic document used to prove the ownership of a public key, ensuring secure communication over a network.
Simple“The browser showed a warning because the website's security certificate had expired.”
In context“The administrator updated the SSL certificate on the server to maintain encrypted connections for all remote users.”
Synonymsdigital IDpublic key certificate - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.an official age rating given to a movie.
n.an official classification assigned to a motion picture by a rating board, indicating its suitability for specific age groups.
Simple“The new horror movie was given an 18 certificate because of the violence.”
In context“The cinema manager strictly enforced the age restrictions associated with the film's 15 certificate.”
Synonyms - 05 C1 Advanced
v.to give someone an official certificate to show they have reached a certain standard.
v.to attest to or confirm a status or level of achievement by issuing a formal document.
Simple“The agency will certificate all students who pass the final safety test.”
In context“The governing body intends to certificate the new laboratory once the final inspection of the ventilation system is complete.”
“Office for National Statistics data show pregabalin was mentioned on 2,360 death certificates for drug-related poisonings in England and Wales between 2020 and 2024, compared with 768 between 2015 and 2019.”
“She runs her hand over the birth certificates before carefully placing them back inside.”
From French certificat.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.