noun , verb
■ noun / səˈtɪfɪkət; NAmE sərˈt-/ ( abbr. cert. )
1.
an official document that may be used to prove that the facts it states are true :
a birth / marriage / death certificate
2.
an official document proving that you have completed a course of study or passed an exam; a qualification obtained after a course of study or an exam :
a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (= a British qualification for teachers)
■ verb
/ səˈtɪfɪkeɪt; NAmE sərˈt-/ [ vn , vn to inf ] ( BrE ) to give sb an official document proving that they have successfully completed a training course, especially for a particular profession
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the sense certification ): from French certificat or medieval Latin certificatum , from certificare , from Latin certus certain.