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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

That may mean installing limits to your time on certain apps, setting up two-factor authentication or only consuming news through old-school media sources. —

Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2024 Use two-factor authentication for accessing accounts and conducting sensitive transactions. —

Frank Sorrentino, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024 For instance, demonstrate how using two-factor authentication can help prevent fraud, making users feel safer and more empowered rather than overwhelmed. —

Expert Panel®, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024 That said, the site includes welcome security features, such as an SSL certificate, two-factor authentication, and basic DDoS protection. —

PCMAG, 12 Oct. 2024 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

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Two-factor authentication.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/two-factor%20authentication. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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