authenticate

verb

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

transitive verb

: to prove or serve to prove to be real, true, or genuine
authenticate a document
authenticator
ə-ˈthen-ti-ˌkā-tər How to pronounce authenticate (audio)
ȯ-
noun

Synonyms

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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
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.
To prevent Mallory or another adversary-in-the-middle from obtaining the key, Alice must first authenticate herself through Okta, Ping, or whatever other identity provider, or IDP, Bob’s organization uses. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2025 Others have used computer vision with some success in aiding material analysis of pigments and texture; more mercenary applications by museums and collectors include its potential to authenticate works of art. — Sonja Drimmer, Artforum, 1 Apr. 2025 Todd said the center reached out to experts including Alan Mackenna of Loch Ness Exploration to authenticate the image. — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2025 As a result, failing to authenticate your content immediately damages credibility. — Daniel Lotzof, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for authenticate

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

Rhymes for authenticate

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Browse Nearby Words

authentic assessment
authenticate
authentication
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Cite this Entry

“Authenticate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/authenticate. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.

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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
-ˌthent-i-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce authenticate (audio)
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

Nglish: Translation of authenticate for Spanish Speakers

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