authentication

noun

au·​then·​ti·​ca·​tion ə-ˌthen-ti-ˈkā-shən 

ȯ-

plural authentications

: an act, process, or method of showing something (such as an identity, a piece of art, or a financial transaction) to be real, true, or genuine : the act or process of authenticating something

Historically, the authentication of art fell to connoisseurs …

—Colette Bancroft

Encryption and decryption, combined with user authentication, ensure that only intended recipients read the messages.

—Sal Ricciardi

Mostly, notaries have to be adept at the authentication arts. In an era of multiple-personality disorder, cross-dressing, sex-change surgery and bogus IDs, people aren't always who they appear to be. On the notary public rests the responsibility to verify a person's true identity and attest to it.

—Colette Bancroft

Giving users a way to prove that they're being harassed with, say, a screenshot or some other form of authentication could help Twitter catch bad actors, even after they've covered their tracks.

—Issie Lapowsky

—often used before another noun

authentication codes

authentication techniques

authentication keys

Examples of authentication in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Multifactor authentication, which combines multiple verification methods, is a must. —Joseph Ours, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025

Consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords. 3) Enable two-factor authentication: Where possible, enable multifactor authentication. —Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 8 Jan. 2025

And as cards of all kinds are now more widely viewed as alternative investments with the potential to be worth millions, the demand for authentication and grading — an attempt at standardizing assessments of condition that drives value — has skyrocketed. —Larry Holder, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025

This type of authentication uses the strongest form of protection to secure accounts and other sensitive information. —Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 19 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

authentic(ate) + -ation

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing authentication

• multifactor authentication
• two-factor authentication