Origin: Latin suffix -ate
Certificate has 6 different meanings across 2 categories:
a document attesting to the truth of certain stated facts
"The company requires every employee to submit a certificate verifying their previous employment history before processing their new hire paperwork."
a formal declaration that documents a fact of relevance to finance and investment; the holder has a right to receive interest or dividends
"he held several valuable securities"
A document containing a certified statement.
"The doctor signed my certificate to confirm that I was fit to return to work after recovering from the flu."
In plain English: A certificate is an official paper that proves you have finished a course or learned a specific skill.
"He proudly displayed his driving certificate on the dashboard."
Usage: Use certificate to refer to an official document that verifies a specific fact, such as a birth certificate or a professional certification. Do not confuse it with a decorative piece of art or a general proof of ownership, which are better described as framed artwork or title deeds.
present someone with a certificate
"The principal presented each graduating student with a certificate of completion at the final assembly."
authorize by certificate
"The pilot was authorized to land at the small airport after presenting his medical fitness certificate."
To supply with a certificate, especially following certification
"The university will certify your completed course and issue you a certificate by next week."
In plain English: To certify something means to officially confirm that it is true or meets certain standards.
"The doctor will certificate the patient's recovery before releasing them from the hospital."
Usage: Do not use "to certificate" to mean issuing an official document; instead, use the verb "certify." The noun form remains "certificate," so you should say someone certified the product rather than certificated it.
The word certificate entered English from French as a loanword. It originally referred to an official document or proof of something before taking on its modern meaning.