authenticate

play

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

authentication

play \-ˌthen-ti-ˈkā-shən\ noun

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

The introduction of DNA evidence, also starting in the mid-1990s, has been essential to the program’s success, allowing defense officials to authenticate finds that would have been too uncertain in the past.

— jeanette steele, sandiegouniontribune.com, "After five decades, MIA pilot's wedding ring and bone fragments found in Vietnam fish pond", 26 May 2017
Chief among the developments that grew out of public key cryptography was the ability to authenticate message senders with digital signatures.

— steven levy, WIRED, "The Open Secret", 1 Apr. 1999

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!

First Known Use: 1613

See Words from the same year

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

play

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

play

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 authenticate a check