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
Conveying quiet luxury requires channeling a certain palette of hues and tones to match that mood.
—
Kristine Gill, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Jan. 2025
De Noire and her colleagues don't even request or suggest that the women come in at a certain time.
—Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 24 Jan. 2025
For me, this just meant pushing forward with a certain topic.
—John Ruwitch, NPR, 24 Jan. 2025
Players also must sign for a certain amount of money on a per-year basis to factor into the formula.
—Daniel Popper, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025
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Kristine Gill, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Jan. 2025
De Noire and her colleagues don't even request or suggest that the women come in at a certain time.
—Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 24 Jan. 2025
For me, this just meant pushing forward with a certain topic.
—John Ruwitch, NPR, 24 Jan. 2025
Players also must sign for a certain amount of money on a per-year basis to factor into the formula.
—Daniel Popper, The Athletic, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for a certain
Dictionary Entries Near a certain
Cite this Entry
“A certain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20certain. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.
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