authenticate

verb

au·​then·​ti·​cate ə-ˈthen-ti-ˌkāt 

ȯ-

authenticated; authenticating

transitive verb

: to prove or serve to prove to be real, true, or genuine

authenticate a document

authenticator

ə-ˈthen-ti-ˌkā-tər 

ȯ-

noun

Synonyms

• attest
• avouch
• certify
• testify (to)
• vouch (for)
• witness

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

Israelis trash aid trucks bound for Gaza Videos authenticated by Al Jazeera show Israelis attacking food aid trucks at a checkpoint in Hebron in the occupied West Bank, preventing the aid from reaching Gaza. —John Bacon, USA TODAY, 13 May 2024

Such witnesses are used to authenticate evidence that prosecutors and defense lawyers have not otherwise previously agreed should be admitted. —Jonah E. Bromwich, New York Times, 10 May 2024

The company uses digital watermarks and deep learning to authenticate digital media. —Laura Bratton, Quartz, 8 May 2024

Other evidence has been introduced by custodians -- witnesses called by prosecutors to authenticate records -- who were not direct participants in the events and are unable to provide the same kind of context for the evidence. —Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 6 May 2024

You’ll be prompted to authenticate your account by confirming a six-digit code sent via text message or email. —Danielle Directo-Meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019

In fact, even in Ohtani’s possession, the ball is not MLB authenticated. —Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024

The remaining edges of Entrée du port—which have been authenticated as Cézanne’s by the Société Paul Cézanne—were then plastered over. —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Feb. 2024

The University of Maryland is developing a cryptographic system based on QR codes to authenticate unaltered live recordings. —Tiffany Hsu, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024

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

Kids Definition

authenticate

verb

au·​then·​ti·​cate ə-ˈthent-i-ˌkāt 

ȯ-

authenticated; authenticating

: to prove or serve to prove that something is authentic

authentication

-ˌthent-i-ˈkā-shən 

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