authentication
/ɔːˌθɛntɪˈkeɪʃn̩/
"authentication" is a 14-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“authentication” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #18,243 in English word frequency and used as a noun.
- #18,243
- frequency rank, English
- 14
- letters
- 21
- tracked misspellings
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Something which validates or confirms the authenticity of something; or the process of doing so.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | authentication |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /ɔːˌθɛntɪˈkeɪʃn̩/ |
| Letters | 14 |
| Frequency rank | #18,243 |
| Misspellings tracked | 21 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “authentication” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for authentication is 14 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɔːˌθɛntɪˈkeɪʃn̩/. Corpus data places it at rank #18,243 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 3 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
Our generated misspelling index lists 21 likely wrong-spelling variants for authentication, with forms such as "atuhentication", "auhtentication", and "autehntication". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. No close-neighbour confusable shows up for this headword in our dataset, since its spelling is unusual enough that it doesn't cluster with a lookalike.
Etymologically, the entry records: From authenticate + -ation. The correct English form is authentication, spelled A-U-T-H-E-N-T-I-C-A-T-I-O-N.
Definition
- 1Something which validates or confirms the authenticity of something; or the process of doing so.
- 2Proof of identity required by a user to log on to some network or access some resource.
- 3A hallmark or assay-mark on a piece of metalwork.
Etymology
From authenticate + -ation.
Synonyms
This word in other languages
Common misspellings
Also misspelled as: atuhentication,auhtentication,autehntication,authenitcation,authenntication,authentciation,authentiaction,authenticaiton,authenticasion,authenticatino,authenticationn,authenticatoin,authenticattion,authenticcation,authentictaion,authenttication,authetnication,authhentication,authnetication,autthentication,uathentication
Misspelling Pattern Breakdown
How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of authentication - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you spell "authentication"?
What does "authentication" mean?
What are common misspellings of "authentication"?
How do you pronounce "authentication"?
What is the origin of the word "authentication"?
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Using “authentication”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is A-U-T-H-E-N-T-I-C-A-T-I-O-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ɔːˌθɛntɪˈkeɪʃn̩/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source
Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.