authentication

noun

au·​then·​ti·​ca·​tion ə-ˌthen-ti-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce authentication (audio)
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
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.
Static multifactor authentication isn’t enough; combine it with adaptive authentication and just-in-time access to limit exposure windows. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025 Despite the limitations of existing biometric modules, fingerprint and face authentication technology are expected to be the go-to biometric methods for the foreseeable future. Cheryl Winokur Munk, CNBC, 28 Feb. 2025 Exploiting weak security practices, such as the absence of multifactor authentication, attackers extracted valuable data and later attempted to sell it on underground markets. Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 26 Feb. 2025 Other authentication options include authentication apps, security keys, and passkeys. Jibin Joseph, PCMAG, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for authentication

Word History

Etymology

authentic(ate) + -ation

First Known Use

1612, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of authentication was in 1612

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Authentication.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/authentication. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on authentication

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!