authenticate

verb au·then·ti·cate \ ə-ˈthen-ti-ˌkāt , ȯ- \

Definition of authenticate

authenticated; authenticating

transitive verb

:to prove or serve to prove to be real, true, or genuine

authenticate a document

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authentication

play \-ˌthen-ti-ˈkā-shən\ noun

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authenticator

play \-ˈthen-ti-ˌkā-tər\ noun

See authenticate defined for English-language learners

See authenticate defined for kids

Examples of authenticate in a Sentence

The signature has been authenticated.
a jeweler authenticated the diamond as real

Recent Examples of authenticate from the Web

Each one has to decode and authenticate the message before taking action.

— the editors, Scientific American, "No One Should Have Sole Authority to Launch a Nuclear Attack," 24 July 2017
It was made available to Russian state television in the late 1990s and authenticated in public by Yuri Y. Chaika, Russia’s prosecutor general, who at 66 has a long and storied background in kompromat.

— andrew e. kramer, New York Times, "The Master of ‘Kompromat’ Believed to Be Behind Trump Jr.’s Meeting," 17 July 2017
These PINs are used to authenticate our customers and protect their account information, consistent with FCC requirements.

— john diedrich, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Cops have a new strategy to fight heroin in Milwaukee: Cut off dealers' phones.," 12 July 2017
The numbers were used to authenticate customers at call centers, the company said.

— joe marusak, charlotteobserver, "Verizon says personal data of 6 million users leaked online," 12 July 2017
Beckett's Grading Service refused to authenticate the Prescott's signature on five autographed cards from collectors who received Prescott autograph redemptions from Panini's 2016 Prizm set, according to the report.

— geoffrey c. arnold, OregonLive.com, "Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott accused of using machine to sign autographs: Report," 5 July 2017
And his signature was just a pro forma measure, writes Snopes–as leader of the Continental Congress, Hancock needed to authenticate the document.

— kat eschner, Smithsonian, "Suggested Alternative Dates for Independence Day," 4 July 2017
Miracles do not authenticate one's prophetic mission. (

— rabbi avi weiss, Jewish Journal, "Weiss: The role of miracles in the process of belief," 19 June 2017
For nearly 18 months after unearthing the painting, Levine spent tens of thousands of dollars trying to authenticate the piece.

— nancy coleman, CNN, "Lost Jackson Pollock painting found in a garage could be worth $15 million," 12 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'authenticate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of authenticate

see authentic

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1613

See Words from the same year

authenticate Synonyms

Synonyms

attest, certify, avouch, testify (to), vouch (for), witness

Antonyms

disprove, rebut, refute

Related Words

guarantee, warrant; affirm, assert, aver, avow, profess, vow

Near Antonyms

contradict, gainsay; deny, disavow, disclaim; challenge, contest, dispute, question

Synonym Discussion of authenticate

confirm, corroborate, substantiate, verify, authenticate, validate mean to attest to the truth or validity of something. confirm implies the removing of doubts by an authoritative statement or indisputable fact.

- confirmed the reports

corroborate suggests the strengthening of what is already partly established.

- witnesses corroborated his story

substantiate implies the offering of evidence that sustains the contention.

- the claims have yet to be substantiated

verify implies the establishing of correspondence of actual facts or details with those proposed or guessed at.

- all statements of fact in the article have been verified

authenticate implies establishing genuineness by adducing legal or official documents or expert opinion.

- handwriting experts authenticated the diaries

validate implies establishing validity by authoritative affirmation or by factual proof.

- validated the hypothesis by experiments

AUTHENTICATE Defined for English Language Learners

authenticate

verb

Definition of authenticate for English Language Learners

: to prove that something is real, true, or genuine : to prove that something is authentic

AUTHENTICATE Defined for Kids

authenticate

verb au·then·ti·cate \ ə-ˈthen-ti-ˌkāt \

Definition of authenticate for Students

authenticated; authenticating

:to prove or serve as proof that something is authentic

Law Dictionary

authenticate

transitive verb au·then·ti·cate

legal Definition of authenticate

authenticated; authenticating

1 :to prove or serve to prove that (something) is genuine; especially :to prove that (an item of evidence) is genuine for the purpose of establishing admissibility

2 :to make (a written instrument) valid and effective by marking especially with one's signature