authenticate

verb

au·​then·​ti·​cate ə-ˈthen-ti-ˌkāt How to pronounce authenticate (audio)
ȯ-
authenticated; authenticating

transitive verb

: to prove or serve to prove to be real, true, or genuine
authenticate a document
authenticator noun
Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of authenticate in a Sentence

The signature has been authenticated. a jeweler authenticated the diamond as real
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.
It was later authenticated as the original trophy by the NCAA. Zach Bradshaw, The Arizona Republic, 26 Nov. 2024 Greitens and his attorney, Timothy Parlatore, authenticated the one-page document to CBS News. Daniel Klaidman, CBS News, 25 Nov. 2024 Try to authenticate a video by checking with the source that supposedly created it. Russ Wiles, USA TODAY, 30 Oct. 2024 The painting was authenticated the following year by the Van Gogh Museum. Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 4 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for authenticate 

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin authenticātus, past participle of authenticāre "to stamp as genuine or authoritative," derivative of Latin authenticus "original (of documents)" — more at authentic

Note: Compare as a secondary source Middle French autentiquer "to guarantee that something conforms to a norm."

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of authenticate was in 1613

Dictionary Entries Near authenticate

Cite this Entry

“Authenticate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/authenticate. Accessed 9 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

authenticate

verb
au·​then·​ti·​cate ə-ˈthent-i-ˌkāt How to pronounce authenticate (audio)
ȯ-
authenticated; authenticating
: to prove or serve to prove that something is authentic
authentication noun

Legal Definition

authenticate

transitive verb
au·​then·​ti·​cate
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

More from Merriam-Webster on authenticate

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