authentication

noun

au·​then·​ti·​ca·​tion ə-ˌthen-ti-ˈkā-shən 

ȯ-

plural authentications

: an act, process, or method of showing something (such as an identity, a piece of art, or a financial transaction) to be real, true, or genuine : the act or process of authenticating something

Historically, the authentication of art fell to connoisseurs …

—Colette Bancroft

Encryption and decryption, combined with user authentication, ensure that only intended recipients read the messages.

—Sal Ricciardi

Mostly, notaries have to be adept at the authentication arts. In an era of multiple-personality disorder, cross-dressing, sex-change surgery and bogus IDs, people aren't always who they appear to be. On the notary public rests the responsibility to verify a person's true identity and attest to it.

—Colette Bancroft

Giving users a way to prove that they're being harassed with, say, a screenshot or some other form of authentication could help Twitter catch bad actors, even after they've covered their tracks.

—Issie Lapowsky

—often used before another noun

authentication codes

authentication techniques

authentication keys

Examples of authentication in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Use multi-factor authentication Most major websites now support multi-factor or two-step authentication, which requires not only a username and password but additional assurances that a user is the rightful account holder. —Brian Fung, CNN, 13 Apr. 2024

In a press briefing, Eric Goldstein, CISA’s Executive Assistant Director for Cybersecurity, noted that federal agencies could have exposed authentication details in the emails to Microsoft to troubleshoot an IT issue, or to address a software bug. —Michael Kan, PCMAG, 11 Apr. 2024

Kohler and other auction executives can’t rely solely on sports leagues to provide authentication of memorabilia that customers want to buy and sell. —Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024

This is to enable the coexistence of AD and multiple cloud IDPs including Microsoft Entra using an identity fabric that unifies the management of authentication, access control, attributes and tokens, authorization, administration/governance, and audit/reporting. —Eric Olden, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

The entire incident with the home run ball should be replayed and she should be given her choice on whether to keep the ball, with full authentication, or accept a substitute. —Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024

Modern identity systems support advanced capabilities such as multifactor authentication (MFA), pass keys, passwordless and more. —Eric Olden, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

This partnership will add another level of authentication and security by enlisting NFTrends' unique and innovative DPP (Digital Product Passport) technologies. —Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024

Prior to starting his own company in 2022, Firestein spent a decade as a luxury authenticator, including two years as the director of authentication at Rebag. —Jasmine Li, Fortune, 27 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

authentic(ate) + -ation

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing authentication

• multifactor authentication
• two-factor authentication