authentic
Americanadjective
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not false or copied; genuine; real.
an authentic antique.
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having an origin supported by unquestionable evidence; authenticated; verified.
an authentic document of the Middle Ages;
an authentic work of the old master.
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representing one’s true nature or beliefs; true to oneself or to the person identified.
a story told in the authentic voice of a Midwestern farmer;
a senator’s speech that sounded authentic.
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entitled to acceptance or belief because of agreement with known facts or experience; reliable; trustworthy.
an authentic report on poverty in Africa.
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Law. executed with all due formalities.
an authentic deed.
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Music.
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(of a church mode) having a range extending from the final to the octave above.
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(of a cadence) consisting of a dominant harmony followed by a tonic.
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Obsolete. authoritative.
adjective
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of undisputed origin or authorship; genuine
an authentic signature
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accurate in representation of the facts; trustworthy; reliable
an authentic account
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(of a deed or other document) duly executed, any necessary legal formalities having been complied with
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music
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using period instruments and historically researched scores and playing techniques in an attempt to perform a piece as it would have been played at the time it was written
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( in combination )
an authentic-instrument performance
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music Compare plagal
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(of a mode as used in Gregorian chant) commencing on the final and ending an octave higher
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(of a cadence) progressing from a dominant to a tonic chord
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Related Words
Authentic, genuine, real, veritable share the sense of actuality and lack of falsehood or misrepresentation. Authentic carries the connotation of authoritative confirmation that things or people are what they are claimed or appear to be: an authentic Rembrandt sketch; an authentic smile. Genuine refers to objects or persons having the characteristics or source claimed or implied: a genuine ivory carving. Real, the most general of these terms, refers to innate or actual—as opposed to ostensible—nature or character: In real life, plans often miscarry. A real diamond will cut glass. Veritable, derived from the Latin word for truth, suggests the general truthfulness but not necessarily the literal or strict correspondence with reality of that which it describes; it is often used metaphorically: a veritable wizard of finance.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of authentic
First recorded in 1300–50; from Late Latin authenticus “coming from the author, genuine” (also in the neuter, as a noun: “original document, the original”), from Greek authentikós “original, primary, at first hand,” equivalent to authént(ēs) “perpetrator,” literally, “one who does things oneself” ( aut- aut- + -hentēs “doer”) + -ikos -ic
Explanation
The adjective authentic describes something that is real or genuine and not counterfeit. Be careful when you are buying jewelry or watches. If you are going to buy a diamond ring, you want an authentic diamond and not glass. That would be authentic glass but a fake diamond! In addition to describing something real, the adjective authentic describes something reliable, based on fact, and believable. If you have to write a research paper for school, be sure to use authentic facts and figures. The teacher is sure to check if you write, "My little sister told me that the Eiffel Tower is about 10,000 feet high," when in fact it's 1,063 feet tall.
Vocabulary lists containing authentic
100 SAT Words Beginning with "A"
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List 1
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Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Cut all the polling and the focus groups and carefully scripted talking points. Give us more authentic warriors for justice and truth abroad and at home.”
From Slate • Apr. 29, 2026
It may not be 100% authentic, but it gets the job done and totally impresses all your friends.
From Salon • Apr. 28, 2026
Two U.S. officials told The Times that the contents of the manifesto are authentic.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2026
Harold Bloom taught us that “a longing for sustained vision may be the authentic mark of achieved epic.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
He opens the flask, anoints me, while I seem to faint, with the authentic holy water used on the feet of the holy saint.
From "Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!: Voices from a Medieval Village" by Laura Amy Schlitz
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
