notarized
Notarized (adjective) means of a document: certified by a notary public, who has verified the signer's identity, witnessed the signature and added an official seal and stamp. Example: “The lender requires a notarized copy of the deed.”
How to Use Notarized
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSigned in front of an official who confirms you are who you say you are and stamps the paper.
Legal and administrative. The -ized spelling is standard because the practice is chiefly American.
You notarise a signature, not a fact — bring photo ID, and do not sign until the notary is watching.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The lender requires a _____ copy of the deed.
Etymology
From notary, via Latin notarius "clerk, shorthand writer", from nota "a mark or note", plus the verb-forming ending -ize.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for notarized
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between notarized and certified?
Notarising confirms who signed a document and that they signed it willingly in the notary's presence; it says nothing about whether the contents are true. A certified copy is a separate service, in which an authorised person confirms that a copy matches the original.
Does a notary check that the document is true?
No. The notary verifies identity and witnesses the signature, and may administer an oath. The accuracy of what the document says remains entirely the signer's responsibility.
Is it notarized or notarised?
Notarized is the American spelling and is by far the more common, since the notary public system in this form is largely American. British English would write notarised, though UK notaries are a small profession dealing mostly with documents for use abroad.