Authentic
Real or genuine; not fake or imitation; true to its claimed origin or identity.
adjectiveAuthentic
Real or genuine; not fake or imitation; true to its claimed origin or identity.
adjectiveImagine This
Imagine a museum curator testing a painting's provenance. A stamp labeled authentic is affixed to the frame, confirming it is the real piece from the claimed artist.
Sounds Like
aw-THEN-tik
Looks Like
Root 'auth-' is shared with words like authentic, authority, and author; visually related to authenticate and authenticity.
Remember This
Authentic comes from Greek authentikos meaning original or genuine, via Latin authenticus.
Other Forms
Connect With
genuine, real, legitimate, bona fide, veritable
Note
Use authentic to describe things that are real and not counterfeit, especially objects, documents, or experiences. Do not confuse with actual or credible—authenticity emphasizes genuineness and origin rather than just believability.