two-factor authentication
noun
two-fac·tor authentication
ˈtü-ˈfak-tər- 
: 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
But in a disturbing find, security researchers have discovered an innovative way to leak data from these apps on Android phones, paving the way to steal the two-factor authentication codes (2FA).
—
PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2025
Check each of these services for unfamiliar logins, permission changes or device activity, and secure them by changing passwords and enabling two-factor authentication.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Links to accounts Yes, bank accounts and credit cards
Availability
Available for both iOS and Android
Security features
Data encryption and fraud detection technology; unique, one-time login codes, two-factor authentication
Terms apply.
—Kat Boogaard, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
Enable two-factor authentication wherever possible.
—Rahul Telang, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for two-factor authentication
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PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2025
Check each of these services for unfamiliar logins, permission changes or device activity, and secure them by changing passwords and enabling two-factor authentication.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Links to accounts Yes, bank accounts and credit cards
Availability
Available for both iOS and Android
Security features
Data encryption and fraud detection technology; unique, one-time login codes, two-factor authentication
Terms apply.
—Kat Boogaard, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
Enable two-factor authentication wherever possible.
—Rahul Telang, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for two-factor authentication
Cite this Entry
“Two-factor authentication.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/two-factor%20authentication. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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