Certifications

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˌsɝtɪfɪˈkeɪʃənz/

Definitions

1. Official attestations that confirm an individual's qualifications or expertise in a particular field
2. Legal documents acknowledging proficiency or mastery in specified subjects or practices
3. Documents issued by authoritative bodies that verify a person’s skills or qualifications in a specific area

Etymology: "Certifications" is the plural of "certification," so its story is the story of the noun it pluralizes. "Certification" is formed from "certify," which comes from Medieval Latin "certificare," meaning to make certain or to assure, built from Latin "certus," certain, and "facere," to make. The root "certus" is also the source of "certain" and "certitude," so the word sits in a family of ideas about making something definite and beyond doubt. The plural form simply counts multiple acts or instances of this formal assurance. A person may hold several certifications, each one a separate document confirming competence in a particular area, which is why the plural is the form people usually encounter in résumés and job listings.

Synonyms: accreditations, qualifications