inauthentic

American  

[in-aw-then-tik] / ˌɪn ɔˈθɛn tɪk /

adjective

1. not authentic.

   inauthentic Indian jewelry mass-produced in a factory.

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inauthentic British  

/ ˌɪnɔːˈθɛntɪk /

adjective

1. not authentic; false

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Other Word Forms

• inauthentically adverb
• inauthenticity noun

Etymology

Origin of inauthentic

First recorded in 1855–60; in- ³ + authentic

Explanation

An inauthentic person is fake or insincere, and an inauthentic thing isn't what it's said to be. That gold Rolex watch you bought for five dollars? It's probably inauthentic. Anything that pretends to be something it's not is inauthentic, whether it's a "designer" handbag or a person who's assuming a false identity. The adjective inauthentic is made up of the prefix in-, "not" or "opposite of," and authentic, "genuine" or "accurate." The Greek root is authentikos, "original, genuine, or principal."

Example Sentences

Finally, restricting the monetization of inauthentic engagement would reduce the financial incentives for influence operations and other malicious groups to use synthetic consensus.

From Salon • Feb. 15, 2026

Often when shows appear "clunky" or inauthentic, the review suggested, it was because "diversity seems superimposed rather than arising out of the subject".

From BBC • Jan. 29, 2026

I could tell they were scared to have others see it because I’m sure it’s hard to write something like that and not make it corny or inauthentic.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 1, 2026

In her own words, the goalkeeper says it simply would've felt "inauthentic" to not go public with something that is "so important" to her.

From BBC • Oct. 31, 2025

They made notations in their family Bible, indicating places where biblical scholars deemed passages inauthentic, added later by unknown authors.

From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman