au ‧ then ‧ tic ‧ ate /ɔːˈθentɪkeɪt $ ɒː-/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
to prove that something is true or real:
The painting has been authenticated by experts.
passwords which can authenticate electronic documents
—authentication /ɔːˌθentəˈkeɪʃ ə n, ɔːˌθentɪˈkeɪʃ ə n $ ɒː-/ noun [uncountable]