What does pre-certified mean?

I was recently in the process of upgrading my old Verizon LG flip phone to something newer--and that's a story for another day--when I came across "pre-certified" phones.

Then, I got to thinking: what in the world is pre-certified?

Pre-certified is a fancy term for . . . used.

But used doesn't necessarily mean it's bad.  The phones are supposed to go through a rigorous inspection, and functionally they work.  Instead, there may be a cosmetic defect, like a small scratch.  It's up to you on whether or not to go with pre-certified or new.

Then again, when it comes to cars, used is typically what most people go with.  Why would cell phones be any different?