ENGLISH
REFERENCE

certificate

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //sɝˈtɪfɪkət// cer·tifi·cate General-service

n. an official document that proves you have finished a course, passed a test, or that a fact is true. It often has a signature or a stamp to show it is real.

n. an official document attesting to a particular fact, such as the completion of an educational course or the legal status of an individual. In computing, it refers to a digital file used to verify the identity of a user or server.


SIMPLE

You will receive a certificate after you pass the exam.

CONTEXTUAL

The HR department requires a copy of your birth certificate before you can sign the employment contract.

COMPLEX

The browser blocked the website because its security certificate had expired, suggesting that the connection might no longer be private or authenticated by a trusted authority.

Synonyms
Origin

From French certificat.

Usage

Often used with the verbs 'issue', 'award', or 'grant'.

Pitfall

I finished my certificate in historyI earned my certificate in historyIn an educational context, you 'earn', 'receive', or 'get' a certificate; you do not 'finish' the document itself.

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