Origin: Latin suffix -tion
Certification has 5 different meanings across 1 category:
the act of certifying or bestowing a franchise on
"The regional council's certification of the new vendor allowed them to begin operations immediately."
confirmation that some fact or statement is true through the use of documentary evidence
"The insurance company required a medical certification to confirm that his injury was real before they would cover the surgery costs."
a document attesting to the truth of certain stated facts
"The insurance company refused our claim because we could not produce the certification verifying that the storm occurred on the date listed in the report."
validating the authenticity of something or someone
"The museum refused to display the painting without an official certification validating its authenticity as a work by Van Gogh."
The act of certifying.
"After months of studying, she finally received her certification as a professional pilot."
In plain English: Certification is an official document that proves you have finished a specific course or passed a test.
"The company requires a safety certification before they can sell their new toys."
Usage: Use certification to refer to the official process or document that verifies someone's skills or qualifications. It is distinct from the certificate itself, which is the physical proof awarded after certification.
Derived from Latin certificare, meaning "to make certain," this term combines certus (sure) with facere (to do or make). It originally referred to the act of confirming something as true or authentic.