authenticity
Authenticity means being genuine or true to oneself and what one represents. It's about being real and not pretending to be something else.
When we talk about authenticity, we usually mean that someone or something is genuine, original, and hasn't been copied or faked. For example, if you're at a restaurant that claims to serve authentic Mexican food, it means they're using traditional recipes and ingredients from Mexico, rather than just copying them from elsewhere. In music, an artist might be accused of lacking authenticity if their sound is too polished or commercialized, rather than raw and genuine.
Authenticity can also apply to people's personalities and experiences. If someone says that a movie was authentic in its portrayal of a particular culture, they mean it showed the real deal, without stereotypes or exaggerations. Authenticity is often what makes something or someone interesting and valuable – we tend to appreciate things that are genuine and unique rather than fake or manufactured.
How common is "authenticity"?
It appears most frequently in academic texts and less often in other writings.
noun
The quality of being genuine or not corrupted from the original, of having the same origin (or attribution, commitment, intention, etc.) as claimed.
Example: I hereby certify the authenticity of this copy.
Real examples of "authenticity" in context
