authenticate
authenticate Lexical Profile
authenticate Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To verify the identity of a user, device, or process (especially in computing and digital security) before granting access to a system.
"The banking portal requires customers to authenticate their login attempt using a one-time security code."
To prove or show something (such as a document, artwork, or historical artifact) to be true, genuine, or valid.
"The museum hired an independent team of art historians to authenticate the newly discovered painting."
Word Nuance & Usage
In computing and security contexts, do not confuse 'authenticate' (verifying who a user is) with 'authorize' (determining what permissions an authenticated user has).
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the mid-17th century from Medieval Latin authenticatus, past participle of authenticare ('to confirm the validity of'), ultimately from Ancient Greek authentikos ('original, genuine, principal'), from authentes ('one acting on one's own authority').