authentic

adjective

au·then·tic | \ ə-ˈthen-tik

, ȯ-\

Definition of authentic

1a : worthy of acceptance or belief as conforming to or based on fact paints an authentic picture of our society

b : conforming to an original so as to reproduce essential features an authentic reproduction of a colonial farmhouse

c : made or done the same way as an original authentic Mexican fare

2 : not false or imitation : real, actual an authentic cockney accent

3 : true to one's own personality, spirit, or character is sincere and authentic with no pretensions

4a of a church mode : ranging upward from the keynote — compare plagal sense 1

b of a cadence : progressing from the dominant chord to the tonic — compare plagal sense 2

5 obsolete : authoritative

Other Words from authentic Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about authentic

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Other Words from authentic

authentically \ -ti-k(ə-)lē

\ adverb

authenticity \ ˌȯ-ˌthen-ˈti-sə-tē

, -thən- \ noun

Choose the Right Synonym for authentic

authentic, genuine, bona fide mean being actually and exactly what is claimed. authentic implies being fully trustworthy as according with fact an authentic account of the perilous journey ; it can also stress painstaking or faithful imitation of an original. an authentic reproduction authentic Vietnamese cuisine genuine implies actual character not counterfeited, imitated, or adulterated genuine piety genuine maple syrup ; it also connotes definite origin from a source. a genuine Mark Twain autograph bona fide implies good faith and sincerity of intention. a bona fide offer for the stock

Examples of authentic in a Sentence

In 1879 expert opinion was unanimous in rejecting Sautuola's timid suggestion that the ceiling paintings in his family's cave were made by the same prehistoric hunters whose stone and bone artifacts he had been collecting from the cave floor. He was accused of forgery and not until 1902, when discovery of similar paintings in several French caves supported Sautuola's claim, did experts agree that they were authentic relics of Paleolithic times. — William H. McNeill, New York Review, 19 Oct. 2006 "If I did authentic Japanese food here, no one would understand," says Masaharu Morimoto, whose idiosyncratic creations dazzle as many as 300 diners a night at his eponymous Philadelphia restaurant. "Anything I do here is going to be an Americanization of Japanese cuisine." The ponytailed Morimoto of Iron Chef fame has been expanding the boundaries of Japanese cuisine his entire career, starting at his own sushi bar in Hiroshima, Japan … — Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator, 31 Mar. 2005 But before we could leave, the old guy had to have his pint with the regulars at the Regulator. Part of his routine. All the staff were from Ireland (the real Ireland), and all the walls were paneled with authentic oak. — Michael Kandel, Fantasy & Science Fiction, October/November 2004 According to Lia, the document seems authentic, though she emphasizes that it contains no specific attack orders … — Aparisim Ghosh, Time, 22 Mar. 2004 We saw authentic examples of ancient Roman sculpture. Experts have confirmed that the signature on the letter is authentic. The witness provided an authentic record of what actually took place. She prepared a very authentic Mexican meal. The building is an authentic reproduction of a colonial farmhouse.

Recent Examples on the Web

Little Cancun in Atascocita prides itself on providing quality and authentic Mexican food to its customers in the Lake Houston area. — Kaila Contreras, Houston Chronicle, "From refresqueria to taco shop: Little Cancun in Atascocita prides itself on authentic Mexican food," 28 July 2019 The protocols would work to help consumers distinguish whether a call is coming from a real caller by placing a message in the caller ID confirming the call is authentic. — Makena Kelly, The Verge, "A new anti-robocalling bill is headed to the House floor," 17 July 2019 The most extensive display of authentic local foods will be found here, from barbecue meat to freshly caught fish, conch and lobster. — Anquanette Gaspard, Essence, "Live It Up: Get On Badder Than Bad at St. Lucia Carnival 2019," 9 July 2019 There’ll be lots of authentic Italian food and fun — think bocce courts and gondola rides. — Phil Marty, chicagotribune.com, "Get a taste of Italy in Milwaukee, watch champion water skiers and more Midwest events," 1 July 2019 Yes, there is a lot of curiosity and respect for authentic Mexican food. — Julia Moskin, New York Times, "This Mexican Chef Is Having a Very Good Year," 4 June 2019 Making authentic fried food at home is virtually impossible without a deep-fryer, a piece of machinery that's hard to set up, harder to clean, and a massive space hog. — Audrey Bruno, SELF, "Should You Get an Air Fryer? Here's What Food Bloggers and a Registered Dietitian Say," 31 Jan. 2019 Writer and director Lynn Shelton (Humpday) works with her cast to craft partly improvised dialogue and relationships that feel authentic and lived-in, and Sword of Trust is no exception. — Alissa Wilkinson, Vox, "Sword of Trust," 17 July 2019 The bank owns the house, and there’s no inheritance beyond a single artifact: a sword, complete with certificates of authentication that may or may not be authentic. — Michael Phillips, chicagotribune.com, "‘Sword of Trust’ review: Marc Maron’s pawn shop owner takes on Civil War conspiracy theorists," 16 July 2019

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