au ‧ then ‧ tic /ɔːˈθentɪk $ ɒː-/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: autentique , from Late Latin , from Greek authentikos , from authentes 'person who did a particular thing' ]
1 . done or made in the traditional or original way SYN genuine :
authentic French food
2 . a painting, document, book etc that is authentic has been proved to be by a particular person SYN genuine :
an authentic work by Picasso
REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say that something is real or the real thing rather than authentic :
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This is real Indian cooking.
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How do you know if the picture is the real thing?
3 . based on facts:
an authentic account
4 . used to describe a copy that is the same as, or as good as, the original:
Actors dressed in authentic costumes re-enact the battle.
—authentically /-kli/ adverb
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ genuine used about a feeling, thing, or person that really is what they seem to be:
genuine concern
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Experts believe that the painting is genuine.
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genuine refugees
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a genuine reason for taking time off work
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If a student has genuine religious objections to a school activity, they do not have to participate.
▪ real not false or artificial:
real wood
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His real name is Reginald.
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It looks just like the real thing.
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Are those flowers real or artificial?
▪ authentic authentic food, music, clothes etc are correct for the place or the period in history that they are supposed to be from:
It’s a friendly restaurant offering authentic Greek food.
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authentic medieval instruments
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The dancers wore authentic Native American designs.
▪ true [only before noun] having all the qualities you would expect a particular type of person or thing to have:
a true friend
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She is a true professional.
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Being a true Red Sox fan, he never missed a game.
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True Christians believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
▪ bona fide /ˌbəʊnə ˈfaɪdi $ ˈbəʊnə faɪd/ [usually before noun] bona fide people or things are really what they say they are, especially when this can be checked by looking at official documents:
a bona fide medical qualification
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a bona fide company
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This club is only open to bona fide members.
▪ hard evidence/facts evidence or facts that are genuine and can be proved:
There was no hard evidence to support the theory.