authentic
- 1Real and not a fake, copy, or imitation.
Like a real diamond instead of a piece of cut glass.
The museum confirmed that the painting was authentic.
She wanted an authentic leather bag, not a cheap knockoff.
Similargenuine, real, original, legitimate, true
Oppositefake, counterfeit, forged, spurious
- 2True to the facts, so people can trust and believe it.
Like a map you can rely on because it shows the real roads.
The witness gave an authentic account of what happened that night.
Readers trusted the article because its details felt authentic.
Similarreliable, accurate, trustworthy, credible, faithful
Oppositeunreliable, inaccurate, false, untrustworthy
Note
- 3Describing a musical ending that moves to the home note to sound complete.
Like the last step through your front door that tells you the trip is over.
The hymn closes with an authentic cadence that sounds finished.
Students learn to play an authentic cadence before trying harder endings.
Similarperfect
Oppositeplagal
Note
- 4Describing a kind of musical scale whose main note is also its lowest note.
Like climbing a ladder whose first rung is also the very bottom one.
The chant follows an authentic mode, beginning on its lowest note.
Music students learn to recognize an authentic mode in old church songs.
Oppositeplagal
Note
Less common meaning
- 5Having official power and the right to be obeyed.
Note
Practice
Can you tell the meanings of authentic apart? Answer 4 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.
Origin
It came through French from Latin authenticus, which came from Greek authentikós, meaning "genuine."