authentication

American  

[aw-then-ti-kay-shuhn] / ɔˌθɛn tɪˈkeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of establishing something as genuine or authoritative.

   The requisite authentication was performed on each piece before it was donated to the museum.

2. Also called electronic authentication. Digital Technology. the act or process of establishing identity and verifying permission to access an electronic device or computer network (often used attributively): biometric authentication;

   password authentication;

   biometric authentication;

   authentication credentials.

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Other Word Forms

• reauthentication
  noun

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Etymology

Origin of authentication

First recorded in 1600–20; authenticat(e) ( def. ) + -ion ( def. )

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

authentication

The site stopped accepting lower-priced items, closed several brick-and-mortar stores, and ramped up its use of AI to make authentication of millions of designer goods faster.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

The researchers say this combination could eventually be useful for large-scale content moderation, media authentication, surveillance, and other security-critical AI applications.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 1, 2026

Two-factor authentication for accessing her bank accounts is another barrier to criminals.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 24, 2026

Dani Bekyarova-Delev, of Stockport, Greater Manchester, said she had been confident the designer item, bought in 2024, had been genuine because she had used the platform's authentication service.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

From now on, wherever he went, he’d be closely trailed by a military aide carrying a forty-five-pound briefcase containing launch authentication codes and sophisticated communications devices, often referred to as the nuclear football.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

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Related Words

• certification
• verification

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