two-factor authentication

noun

two-fac·​tor authentication ˈtü-ˈfak-tər- 

: a method of verifying the identity of a person (as for granting access to a system) by requiring a password and an additional form of authorization (such as a code, a fingerprint, or a smartphone app)

—abbreviation 2FA compare multi-factor authentication

Examples of two-factor authentication in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Prioritize Cybersecurity Education Firms should educate clients on cybersecurity through live training and videos on security features, such as fraud alerts and two-factor authentication. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025

Set up two-factor authentication for all your online accounts. —Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 19 May 2025

Enable two-factor authentication and avoid disclosing security codes. —Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 May 2025

Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices. 3) Enable two-factor authentication: Enable two-factor authentication whenever possible. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1990, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for two-factor authentication

• deindustrialization
• immunoprecipitation
• individualisation
• individualization
• institutionalisation
• institutionalization
• internationalization
• neovascularization
• operationalization
• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration