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.

---

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

It said affected outlets had "outdated security systems, with interfaces exposed directly to the internet and weaknesses in authentication mechanisms".

From Barron's ● Nov. 3, 2026

It also strengthened its account access controls, including the use of multi-factor authentication.

From BBC ● 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

In 2011, two other sites emerged: Poshmark, with a peer-to-peer marketplace, and the RealReal, focused on luxury items and authentication services.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 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

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• certification
• verification

---