authenticate

verb

au·​then·​ti·​cate ə-ˈthen-ti-ˌkāt How to pronounce authenticate (audio)
ȯ-
authenticated; authenticating

transitive verb

: to prove or serve to prove to be real, true, or genuine
authenticate a document
authenticator noun
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 Deploying Phishing-Resistant Strong Authentication: The good news is that there are choices available today that can authenticate users in a way that is phishing resistant. Atul Tulshibagwale, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 The Arizona Game and Fish Department has authenticated Miller's footage, according to public information officer Mark Hart. Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 29 Jan. 2024 Mail ballots must be processed and authenticated before they can be counted. Emily Alvarenga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Feb. 2024 Höfner then authenticated the bass guitar was McCartney’s, according to the project’s website. Victoria Bisset, Washington Post, 16 Feb. 2024 Scammers may direct victims to authenticate the transaction with the courier using a passcode, such as the serial number of a U.S. dollar bill. USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2024 These scenarios, however, are largely remedied if servers use HTTPS, the variant of HTTP that requires a server to authenticate itself. Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 7 Feb. 2024 The site sells tickets authenticated by the NFL in case fans are worried about scams. Vivid Seats The least expensive ticket on resale site Vivid Seats is in the upper level for $6,866 before fees. Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 30 Jan. 2024 Hatfield visited the shelter and authenticated the shoes. Claire Rush, Fortune, 18 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'authenticate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of authenticate was in 1613

Dictionary Entries Near authenticate

Cite this Entry

“Authenticate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/authenticate. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

authenticate

verb
au·​then·​ti·​cate ə-ˈthent-i-ˌkāt How to pronounce authenticate (audio)
ȯ-
authenticated; authenticating
: to prove or serve to prove that something is authentic
authentication 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

More from Merriam-Webster on authenticate

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