authentication

American  

[aw-then-ti-key-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

They log in to the borrower’s account and request a password change, which will send a two-factor authentication code to the borrower.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 30, 2026

The company’s value-added services and solutions business, which includes fraud prevention and data analytics, also had higher revenue, driven by growth in security, digital and authentication services.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

These include a one-hour lag at the payer's end in account-to-account transactions and additional authentication by a "trusted person" for high-value digital payments by vulnerable sections of society such as elderly people.

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

The process works much like two-factor authentication on a banking website.

From Science Daily • Apr. 2, 2026

“I mean...I’d like it if all of you started using Tor, maybe set up some two-factor authentication on your devices, took some steps to protect your own privacy.”

From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro

Related Words

• certification
• verification