two-factor authentication

noun

two-fac·​tor authentication ˈtü-ˈfak-tər- How to pronounce two-factor authentication (audio)
: 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
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How to keep your account secure: Set up two-factor authentication, update your password and monitor login alerts to protect your account from unauthorized access. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2025 Another security protocol to put in place is two-factor authentication (2FA). Kara McGinley, USA Today, 11 June 2025 According to Underdark, the bulk of the data was seemingly made up of SMS logs, obtained via a third-party vendor that operated two-factor authentication for the storefront. Oliver Brandt, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025 Enable two-factor authentication: Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever possible. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for two-factor authentication

Word History

First Known Use

1990, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of two-factor authentication was in 1990

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Cite this Entry

“Two-factor authentication.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/two-factor%20authentication. Accessed 25 Jun. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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