authenticity
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of authenticity
Explanation
Authenticity is the quality of being genuine or real. You might question the authenticity of your eccentric uncle's photo of a UFO. The word authenticity is the state of something being authentic, or legitimate and true. Authenticity is important when the value of something is dependent on where it came from or how it was made. If you buy a ring said to be worn by Marie Antoinette, you will likely pay a hefty price for it. Before you spend all of that money, you should consult with a historian or experienced jeweler, who will be able to verify its authenticity.
Vocabulary lists containing authenticity
This Week in Words: March 23–29, 2019
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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.
To live openly as an LGBTQ+ person in a hostile culture is to choose authenticity over safety, and truth over social reward.
From Salon • Jun. 5, 2026
"I've always had authenticity to how I like to operate as a person. It's not going to be everyone's cup of tea," said McCullum.
From BBC • May 29, 2026
“You have that sense of authenticity, like a friend is talking to you,” said Emma Briant, a professor at Notre Dame University’s Lucy Family Institute for Data & Society who studies propaganda.
From Los Angeles Times • May 24, 2026
“We were really cautious about who we brought into that fold, because we wanted to maintain that authenticity for the fans,” Herran said.
From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026
What they’ll do is start investigating the authenticity of the sketch.
From "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" by E.L. Konigsburg
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.
