authenticate

USAGE SUMMARY

"authenticate" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to the process of verifying the accuracy or truth of something. For example, "The document must be authenticated by a notary in order for it to be legally binding."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Here was someone of the greatest age and one we could authenticate," said a worker in the department.

The Economist

Asked to authenticate a user, the service concerned queries a central database to check that the card and relevant code match.

The Economist

The obvious way is to challenge e-mail from people you don't know to authenticate itself.

The Economist

The G8 group of rich countries published a wordy declaration in May, but has done little since.For years governments and companies have talked about "track-and-trace" systems to identify and authenticate medicines.

The Economist

Smell could be used to authenticate a user.Integration of form and function will become more important, predicts Tim Brown, chief executive of Ideo, a leading design firm that developed such classics as the first mouse for the Macintosh.

The Economist

And by plugging these cards into the USB ports of computers that have Reader, Belgians will soon be able to "sign"—ie, digitally authenticate and seal PDF documents such as tax forms, mortgage applications, patent approvals and anything else that today requires a signature in ink.The news is not that these forms can then be submitted electronically for instantaneous processing.

The Economist

But the Vatican does not rush to authenticate them.

The Economist

Davor Sutija, Thinfilm's chief executive, thinks smart labels can printed for less than the cost of holograms, which are currently used to authenticate some goods.To gain widespread use, smart labels will need to be cheap.

The Economist

Beare's has a huge database of old violins which it uses to authenticate instruments, and offers a restoration service.

The Economist

It is far pricier and slower to build video architecture from scratch than to use MLBAM, which can withstand crushing demand loads, and authenticate and geo-locate viewers in milliseconds.

The Economist

The twist, however, is that the doors need not have a permanent, hard-wired connection to the central computer.Today, the only way to allow door locks to authenticate ("Are you who you claim to be?") and validate ("Are you supposed to be entering at this hour?") people in real time is to install electronic card-readers on doors, and then hook those readers up to a secure computer network.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "authenticate" in technical contexts, ensure you specify the method or criteria used for authentication to provide clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "authenticate" when you mean "authorize". "Authenticate" means to verify identity, while "authorize" means to grant permission. For example, a system authenticates a user, then authorizes access to specific resources.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "authenticate" is as a transitive verb. It describes the action of proving or verifying that something is genuine, valid, or true. As Ludwig AI confirms, this word is correctly used in a variety of contexts to describe this verification process.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "authenticate" is a versatile transitive verb used to verify the genuineness or validity of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely employed across diverse contexts, including news, encyclopedias, and scientific publications. While it's important to avoid confusion with similar words like "authorize", mastering its proper usage ensures clear and credible communication. Whether confirming the identity of a user or validating the authenticity of an artwork, "authenticate" plays a vital role in establishing trust and reliability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

verify

Emphasizes confirming the truth or accuracy of something.

validate

Focuses on confirming something's legitimacy or legal soundness.

certify

Implies formal attestation or endorsement by an authority.

confirm

Highlights establishing something as definitely true or correct.

prove

Stresses presenting evidence to establish a fact.

attest

Suggests providing formal testimony or evidence.

substantiate

Focuses on supporting a claim with evidence.

corroborate

Involves confirming a statement or theory by providing additional evidence.

demonstrate

Implies showing clearly by giving proof or evidence.

endorse

Suggests giving approval or support, often officially.

FAQs

How do you use "authenticate" in a sentence?

You can use "authenticate" to describe the process of verifying something's truth or validity, as in "The museum curator had to authenticate the painting before it could be displayed."

What can I say instead of "authenticate"?

You can use alternatives like "verify", "validate", or "certify" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "authenticate" and "verify"?

"Authenticate" implies confirming the identity or origin of something, while "verify" means to confirm the truth or accuracy of something. They are similar, but "authenticate" often deals with confirming something is genuine, and "verify" checks if it's true.

What does it mean to "authenticate" a user?

To "authenticate" a user means to verify their identity, usually by checking their credentials, such as a username and password. This process ensures that the user is who they claim to be before granting them access to a system or resource.