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

Etymology

Origin of authentication

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

authentication

EBay has been investing more in fashion resale and authentication services.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026

In 2023, he signed a letter to confirm it was the only ball used during the match, which has also been confirmed by further independent authentication.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

Scammers will ask you to provide or verify personal information, account login details or two-factor authentication codes, transfer money to them or download malicious software, it says.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026

"Inadequate basic safeguards, including poor management of authentication signing keys and lax access controls" caused the personal data of around 37.5 million users to be exposed, the commission said in a statement.

From Barron's ● Jun. 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

Related Words

• certification
• verification