certain
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certain¹
- /ˈsɜː.tən/ UK
- /ˈsɜː.tn̩/ UK
- /ˈsɝ.tən/ Canada, US
- /ˈsɝ.tn̩/ Canada, US
- /ˈsɝ.ʔn̩/ Canada, US
Rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)tən
Where it comes from
From Middle English certeyn, certein, certain, borrowed from Old French certain, from a Vulgar Latin unattested form *certānus, extended form of Latin certus (“fixed, resolved, certain”), of the same origin as cretus, past participle of cernere (“to separate, perceive, decide”). Displaced native Middle English wis, iwis (“certain, sure”) (from Old English ġewiss (“certain, sure”)) and alternative Middle English spelling sertane (“some, certain”).
adjective more certain · certainer · most certain · certainest · certaine · certayne
- Sure in one's mind, positive; absolutely confident in the truth of something. I was certain of my decision.
- Not to be doubted or denied; established as a fact. Now that more experiments have been run, the theory is certain and the argument is settled.
-
Sure to happen, inevitable; assured.
It is certain that Spain will reach the finals. / Spain is now certain to reach the finals. / Spain is now certain of a place in the finals.
Similar: unavoidable
- Unfailing; infallible. I have often wished, that I knew so certain a remedy in any other disease
- Fixed; regular; determinate. at certain intervals
- Particular and definite, but unspecified or unnamed; used to introduce someone or something without going into further detail. Every wine has a certain distinctive character which sets it apart from all others.
- Used to denote that the speaker is referring to a specific person or thing that they do not want to name directly, implying that the listener should infer the identity of the referent. I would have been here on time, but a certain someone lost the car keys!
-
Named but not previously mentioned.
Looking inside the cover, they learned that the book had once belonged to a certain R. Jones.
Similar: one
-
Used before the name of someone famous that people are expected to know.
Since the last British government to make such a proposal was that of a certain Margaret Thatcher, it might not seem unreasonable.
Similar: one
- Determined; resolved. However I with thee have fixt my Lot, Certain to undergoe like doom[…]
Similar: assured, certain, clear, confident, definite, doubtless, positive, sicker, sure, unambiguous, unequivocal, univocal, unwavering, wis · Opposite: uncertain, impossible, incidental, particular specific
determiner certaine · certayne · certeine
- Having been determined but not specified. Certain people are good at running.
pronoun certaine · certayne · certeine
-
Unnamed or undescribed members (of).
She mentioned a series of contracts, of which certain are not cited.
Similar: some
Certain²
proper noun Certains
- A surname.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: sure, positive, dependable, reliable, confident, definite, convinced, careful, fated, destined, bound, predestinate, indisputable, doomed, sealed, foreordained
adjective
Similar: assured, certain, clear, confident, definite, doubtless, positive, sicker, sure, unambiguous, unequivocal, univocal, unwavering, wis · Opposite: uncertain, impossible, incidental, particular specific
Translations
Every language
adj sure, positive, not doubting
| Español | (estar) certero / cierto |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 확실하다 hwaksilhada |
| 日本語 | 確か tashika, 一定 ittei, 定か sadaka, 特定の tokutei no |
| 中文 | 肯定 kěndìng, 確切 /确切 quèqiè, 一定 yīdìng |
| हिन्दी | निश्चित niścit |
| Português | certo |
| Français | certain |
| Deutsch | gewiss, sicher |
| Italiano | certo, sicuro |
| Ελληνικά | βέβαιος vévaios |
| Română | cert, anume, sigur |
| Русский | уве́ренный uvérennyj, определённый opredeljónnyj |
| Tiếng Việt | chắc chắn |
| العربية | أَكِيد ʔakīd, مُتَأَكِّد mutaʔakkid |
adj not specifically named, indeterminate, indefinite
| Español | cierto |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 어느 eoneu, 특정 teukjeong |
| 日本語 | ある aru |
| 中文 | 有的 yǒu de, 某 mǒu |
| Kiswahili | fulani |
| Français | certain, quelconque |
| Deutsch | gewiss, irgendein |
| Italiano | certo, tale |
| Русский | не́который nékotoryj, како́й-то kakój-to, не́кий nékij |
| العربية | بَعْض baʕḍ |
adj Not to be doubted or denied; established as a fact
| Español | (ser) cierto / certero, impepinable |
|---|
adj Sure to happen, inevitable; assured
| Español | (estar) cierto / certero, saberse, ser una certeza / certidumbre / certitud |
|---|
adj in reference to a specific person or thing that the speaker does not want to name directly
| 日本語 | 某 bō- |
|---|
det having been determined but not specified
| Español | cierto, cierta |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | ある aru, とある toaru |
| 中文 | 某 mǒu, 有的 yǒude |
| हिन्दी | निश्चित niścit |
| Português | certo |
| Français | certain |
| Deutsch | bestimmt, gewiss |
| Italiano | certo, certa, determinato, determinata |
| Română | anumit |
| Русский | не́который nékotoryj, определённый opredeljónnyj, не́кий nékij |
| العربية | مُحَدَّد muḥaddad |
Talk about this word "certain." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/certain. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. certain. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/certain "certain." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/certain.Cite this
@misc{certain_2026,
title = {certain},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/certain},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
