authenticate

American  

[aw-then-ti-keyt] / ɔˈθɛn tɪˌkeɪt /

verb (used with object)

authenticated, authenticating

1. to establish as genuine.

   Synonyms:

   substantiate, validate, confirm

2. to establish the authorship or origin of conclusively or unquestionably, chiefly by the techniques of scholarship.

   to authenticate a painting.

3. to make authoritative or valid.

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authenticate British  

/ ɔːˈθɛntɪˌkeɪt /

verb

1. to establish as genuine or valid

2. to give authority or legal validity to

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Other Word Forms

• authenticatable adjective
• authentication noun
• authenticator noun
• nonauthenticated adjective
• nonauthentication noun
• reauthenticate verb (used with object)
• self-authenticating adjective
• unauthenticated adjective
• well-authenticated adjective

Etymology

Origin of authenticate

First recorded in 1565–75; from Medieval Latin authenticātus “made authentic” (past participle of authenticāre ). See authentic, -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Around 15 of such hats have been fully authenticated, most of them now held in museum collections, said Parich.

From Barron's

Many people have become accustomed to using their phones at checkout, authenticating themselves with a fingerprint or their face.

From The Wall Street Journal

The technology is also being applied to authenticate products, create new fragrances and monitor livestock health and emissions.

From The Wall Street Journal

Once users authenticate their identity through the identification service Clear, their data is pulled by vendor HealthEx, which adheres to the federal initiative known as Tefca, a nationwide framework for accessing health records.

From The Wall Street Journal

The next day, the open-source research outfit Bellingcat said it had authenticated a video showing a Tomahawk missile strike next to the school in Minab.

From Salon

Related Words

• attest
• corroborate
• substantiate
• validate
• verify