noun

two-factor authentication

TOO-fak-tuhr aw-then-ti-KAY-shuhn

Two-factor authentication (noun) means a way of checking that someone is who they claim to be by asking for two different kinds of proof, typically a password plus a second item such as a code from a phone app, a text message or a small physical key. Example: “Turning on two-factor authentication means a stolen password on its own is not enough to get into the account.”

noun

computing A way of checking that someone is who they claim to be by asking for two different kinds of proof, typically a password plus a second item such as a code from a phone app, a text message or a small physical key.

"Turning on two-factor authentication means a stolen password on its own is not enough to get into the account."

"She could not log in from the new laptop because two-factor authentication asked for a code she had left at home."

How to Use Two-factor authentication

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishLogging in needs two things instead of one, usually your password and a code.

When to use it

Neutral and standard. Almost always shortened to 2FA in running technical text and in interface labels; the full form is used on first mention and in formal writing.

Memory tip

The hyphen goes in the modifier: 'two-factor authentication', but 'authentication with two factors'.

Easily confused with

2FA → MFA passkey → one-time password

Common pairings

enable two-factor authentication set up two-factor authentication two-factor authentication code require two-factor authentication

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Fill the Gap

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Turning on _____ means a stolen password on its own is not enough to get into the account.

Synonyms

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2FA two-step verification two-factor auth dual-factor authentication

Antonyms

single-factor authentication password-only login

Related Words

2FA

Rhymes for two-factor authentication

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between two-factor authentication and a passkey?

They are not the same thing. Two-factor authentication keeps the password and adds a second check on top of it. A passkey replaces the password altogether with a cryptographic key held on a device and unlocked by a fingerprint, face or device PIN, so there is no password left to steal or reuse.

What is the difference between two-factor authentication and multi-factor authentication?

Multi-factor authentication is the wider term for requiring more than one kind of proof. Two-factor authentication is the specific case where exactly two are required, so every instance of 2FA is multi-factor authentication, but not every instance of multi-factor authentication is 2FA.

Why are two passwords not two-factor authentication?

The two proofs are meant to come from different categories: something known, something possessed, or something inherent to the body. Two passwords are both things known, so a single leak or a single guess can expose both, and the second one adds no new category of proof.

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