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 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.