Webster defines accreditation as "to give trust or confidence to: to vouch for; to recommend; to furnish with credentials, as an envoy or ambassador"

According to ISO17011:2004 Accreditation means: Third–party attestation related to a conformity assessment body conveying formal demonstration of its competence to carry out specific assessment tasks.

United Kingdom Accreditation Forum Certification Limited accreditation of the Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) and Further Training / Educational Institutions convey formal demonstration to carry out specific certification, inspection, registration verification/validation, assessment, testing, and calibration and Training/Educational activities. This independent assessment and recognition of Conformity Assessment Bodies (CABs) and Further Training / Educational Institutions may permit the accredited organizations tests, examination reports and certificates to be recognized as equivalent to organizations in other countries.