two-factor authentication

noun

two-fac·​tor authentication ˈtü-ˈfak-tər- 

: a method of verifying the identity of a person (as for granting access to a system) by requiring a password and an additional form of authorization (such as a code, a fingerprint, or a smartphone app)

—abbreviation 2FA compare multi-factor authentication

Examples of two-factor authentication in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Additionally, look for apps with two-factor authentication and grant financial institutions read-only access. —Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 3 June 2026

Twitter was found to be using phone numbers that people submitted for two-factor authentication for ad targeting, which the FTC flagged as a deceptive practice. —Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 3 June 2026

All one needed to do was ask the Meta AI bot to link the target account with a new email address—no two-factor authentication necessary. —Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 2 June 2026

Then add alerts, account monitoring, strong passwords, two-factor authentication (2FA) and identity protection that can spot activity outside your frozen credit file. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1990, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for two-factor authentication

• deindustrialization
• immunoprecipitation
• individualisation
• individualization
• institutionalisation
• institutionalization
• internationalization
• neovascularization
• operationalization
• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration