a dead cert

noun

British, informal

: something that is certain

They're a dead cert to win.

Examples of a dead cert in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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.

Landing a space on BAFTA’s film not in the English language list was seen as practically a dead cert, but there was hope Kapadia would be recognized in the director category and perhaps even original screenplay. — Alex Ritman, Variety, 15 Jan. 2025 The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 Classic series seems a dead cert for a return in 2025, following its certification by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group. — Andrew Williams, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Ade

a dead cert

adeciduate

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“A dead cert.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/a%20dead%20cert. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

a dead cert

noun

Examples of a dead cert in a Sentence

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

gambol

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes