2
: of a specific but unspecified character, quantity, or degree
the house has a certain charm
3
a
: dependable, reliable
a certain remedy for the disease
b
: known or proved to be true : indisputable
it is certain that we exist
4
a
: inevitable
the certain advance of age
b
: incapable of failing : destined
—used with a following infinitive
she is certain to do well
5
: assured in mind or action
I am certain they are right
see also:
plural in construction
: certain ones
… certain of my generation …—
W. B. Yeats
W. B. YeatsExamples of certain in a Sentence
Adjective
I'm fairly certain that I'll be on time.
a certain person told me that today is your birthday
Recent Examples on the Web
Nina Mesfin, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
For certain great artists, Meis believes, the creative act is a safe harbor where life’s pressures, exigencies, and calamities aren’t so much denied or resolved as reimagined as pictorial dramas.
—Jed Perl, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
The county changed its stance with new regulations in December that allowed ultralight access within certain guidelines, which pilots have claimed are overly-restrictive and cost-prohibitive for hobbyists who fly the relatively inexpensive aircraft.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2026
From certain angles the car almost resembles a futuristic endurance racer rather than a commuter appliance.
—Sponsored Content, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for certain
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
Often, this is a useful guideline, and limits, in general, are very much the friend of the fiction writer, but there are certain stories that benefit from a sense of instability.
—Nina Mesfin, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
For certain great artists, Meis believes, the creative act is a safe harbor where life’s pressures, exigencies, and calamities aren’t so much denied or resolved as reimagined as pictorial dramas.
—Jed Perl, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
The county changed its stance with new regulations in December that allowed ultralight access within certain guidelines, which pilots have claimed are overly-restrictive and cost-prohibitive for hobbyists who fly the relatively inexpensive aircraft.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 4 Apr. 2026
From certain angles the car almost resembles a futuristic endurance racer rather than a commuter appliance.
—Sponsored Content, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for certain
Cite this Entry
“Certain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/certain. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
certain
1 of 2 adjective
cer·tain
ˈsərt-ᵊn 
1
: fixed sense 1b
receive a certain share of the profits
2
: not to be doubted : known to be true
it is certain that diamonds are hard
3
: known but not named
a certain person told me
5
a
: sure to happen : bound to occur : inevitable
defeat was certain
b
: decided in advance by or as if by fate
the plan was certain to succeed
6
: assured in mind or action
feel certain they will come
certain
2 of 2 pronoun
: certain ones
certain of them attended
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
