authenticate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to establish as genuine.
- Synonyms:
- substantiate, validate, confirm
-
to establish the authorship or origin of conclusively or unquestionably, chiefly by the techniques of scholarship.
to authenticate a painting.
-
to make authoritative or valid.
verb
-
to establish as genuine or valid
-
to give authority or legal validity to
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Worse yet, these app-based ordering systems usually require a whole other login or download, forcing you to set up and authenticate an account that you’ll never use again after checkout.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026
"In this study we show how to authenticate a biomarker, verifying that a signal truly comes from life rather than contamination or non-biological chemistry," Shawar adds.
From Science Daily • Feb. 27, 2026
Nanos also said the sheriff's office had received a copy of a ransom note and was working with the FBI to authenticate it.
From BBC • Feb. 4, 2026
Companies like Beckett Grading Services and Professional Sports Authenticator, or PSA, which authenticate and grade the quality of collectible sports cards, now do the same with Pokemon cards.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 23, 2026
Geri explained that he needed the director of the Uffizi to authenticate the painting.
From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day
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.
