a certain

idiom

1

—used to refer to a quality that is noticed but that is difficult to explain or describe

She has a certain elegance about her.

The house has a certain charm.

2

formal

—used with the name of a person one does not know

In 1889, a certain Mr. Kelly made a large donation to the church.

Examples of a certain in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Not anymore, not since the cost of eggs has soared beyond the price of the golden ones that a certain goose once laid. —Lincoln Anderson, New York Daily News, 2 Mar. 2025

Winter weather requires a certain amount of skill to navigate safely on the roads, and the vehicle’s tools make a big difference in conjunction. —Kristin Shaw, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025

One of the gang member’s girlfriends turned against them and informed the sheriff that the gang would be heading north on a certain day. —Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 1 Mar. 2025

The change was made at Ukraine's request because Zelenskyy disliked the narrative that Ukraine owed a certain repayment for past aid, people familiar with the deal said. —Jennifer Jacobs, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2025

Rhymes for a certain

• uncertain
• bertin
• curtain