English Reference
noun

authentication

n.
US /ɔˌθɛntəˈkeɪʃən/ UK /ɔːθˌɛntɪkˈeɪʃən/ au·then·ti·ca·tion UK spelling auth, authentications

  1. 01 C1 Advanced Formal

    the act of proving that an object, like a painting or a document, is genuine and not a fake.

    the formal process of validating that an item, document, or signature is genuine and originates from the claimed source.

    Simple

    The gallery required expert authentication before they would buy the old painting.

    In context

    The museum's board refused to display the manuscript until a full authentication of the ink and parchment had been completed by the laboratory specialists.

  2. 02 C2 Proficiency TechnicalArchaic

    a special mark on metal, like gold or silver, that proves it is high quality.

    a physical mark, such as a hallmark or assay-mark, placed on metalwork to certify its purity or origin.

    Simple

    Look for the small authentication mark on the inside of the silver ring.

    In context

    The collector examined the base of the teapot, searching for the specific authentication that would link it to the eighteenth-century silversmith.

Dani Bekyarova-Delev, of Stockport, Greater Manchester, said she had been confident the designer item, bought in 2024, had been genuine because she had used the platform's authentication service.

BBC News· 11 Aug 2026

From authenticate + -ation.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated