two-factor authentication

noun

two-fac·​tor authentication ˈtü-ˈfak-tər- How to pronounce two-factor authentication (audio)
: a method of verifying the identity of a person (as for granting access to a system) by requiring a password and an additional form of authorization (such as a code, a fingerprint, or a smartphone app)
—abbreviation 2FA compare multi-factor authentication

Examples of two-factor authentication in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noah Segan’s feature directorial debut is an unapologetic love letter to the city, starring John Turturro as an aging thief whose old-school tactics become less effective in an age of two-factor authentication. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 6 Aug. 2026 Users should also clear their browser cache, review browser extensions, change important passwords from a different trusted device and enable two-factor authentication. — Joshua Sidorowicz, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026 Some states that run their own exchanges have two-factor authentication or other types of ID verification and have not reported problems with unauthorized switching. — Julie Appleby, Miami Herald, 3 Aug. 2026 Use a long, unique password and turn on two-factor authentication. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for two-factor authentication

Word History

First Known Use

1990, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of two-factor authentication was in 1990

Rhymes for two-factor authentication

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Browse Nearby Words

two-faced
two-factor authentication
two-family house
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Cite this Entry

“Two-factor authentication.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/two-factor%20authentication. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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