Agency Dictionary
Authenticity
nounPronunciation: /ˌɔː.θenˈtɪs.ə.ti/
In Portuguese: Autenticidade
Philosophy & EthicsWhat does “Authenticity” mean?
The quality of being real, genuine, and true to one's own character or stated origins.
Etymology
From authentic with the suffix -ity. Authentic came into Middle English from Old French autentique, from Late Latin authenticus, from Greek authentikos, "original, principal, warranted", from authentes, "one who acts on his own authority, master". The first element is autos ("self"); the second is usually explained as an old word for doer. The noun was formed later than the adjective, first for the genuineness of documents and objects, and afterwards for the quality of a person who is true to his or her own character.
Usage note
In marketing the word describes brands and messages perceived as honest about what they are; in philosophy it names being true to oneself.
Synonyms
- genuineness
- legitimacy
- sincerity
- veracity
- realness
Often confused with
- originality
- Originality is being new and unlike what came before; authenticity is being genuine, true to an origin or to oneself, even without novelty.
Word family
- authentic
- authentically
- authenticate
- authentication
- inauthentic
Rhymes with
- city
- simplicity
- publicity
- electricity
- complicity
- felicity
- elasticity
Usage examples
For being an aesthetic phenomenon, a good style pertains to feelings and authenticity not only of the creator but also of the receptacle.
Concepts
- Brand AwarenessBrand awareness is the degree to which target consumers can recognize, recall, and associate a brand with its specific products or services. It represents the…
- Brand PersonalityBrand personality is the set of human characteristics, emotional attributes, and behavioral traits attributed to a brand or organization. It enables a company to…
Source editions
Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.
Words of the same theme
- Discursiveadjective
- Proceeding by reasoned argument or sequential exposition rather than by immediate visual intuition.
- rhetoricnoun
- The art of effective and persuasive speaking or writing, especially through strategic linguistic devices.
- Tangibleadjective
- Perceptible by the sense of touch or capable of being physically grasped and measured in concrete physical reality. It distinguishes concrete material products from virtual or intellectual entities.
- Holisticadjective
- Characterized by the comprehension of parts as intimately interconnected and explicable only in reference to the whole.
- Abyssnoun
- A deep or seemingly bottomless chasm, either in physical geography or metaphorical psychological depth. It evokes feelings of unfathomable emptiness or existential peril.
- Affectnoun
- An expressed or experienced emotion, feeling, or visceral response to a stimulus in psychology and philosophy.
- Agapenoun
- A selfless, unconditional, and altruistic form of love often associated in theology with divine charity.
- Ambiguitynoun
- The quality of being open to more than one interpretation; inexactness or uncertainty of meaning.
Also from these editions: terms
- Antithesisnoun
- A person, thing, or concept that represents the direct or exact opposite of another.
- paperweightnoun
- A small, heavy object placed on loose sheets of paper to prevent them from scattering or blowing away.
- omissionnoun
- The intentional or accidental act of leaving something out or excluding details from a statement or text.
- Treatisenoun
- A formal, systematic, and comprehensive written work dealing methodically with the principles and evidence of a particular philosophical, scientific, or technical subject.
- Maximnoun
- A concise statement expressing a fundamental principle, general truth, or practical rule of conduct.
- Resiliencenoun
- The capacity to withstand or recover quickly from difficulties, tough conditions, or shock.
- aestheticsnoun
- A set of principles concerned with the nature and appreciation of beauty, artistic taste, and style.
- anesthetizedadjective
- Deprived of physical sensation or feeling, often used figuratively to describe dullness or emotional apathy.
- Bifurcationnoun
- The division of something into two separate branches, directions, or parts.
- Catharticadjective
- Providing psychological relief through the open expression and release of strong or repressed emotions.
- Contextualadjective
- Depending on, relevant to, or determined by the surrounding circumstances or environment.
- Differentiationnoun
- The act or process of distinguishing between two or more items or establishing uniqueness.
Also from these editions: concepts
- The Titanic TheoryThe Titanic Theory is a literary manifesto and philosophical framework for writers navigating an automated, post-literary era. It posits that writers must act as…
- CatharsisCatharsis is the psychological and emotional release experienced by individuals when engaging deeply with intense artistic or dramatic narratives. First formulated…
- Technical ImageA technical image is a visual representation produced through scientific or mechanical apparatuses such as photography, cinema, and digital screens. It reorganizes human…
- The Iceberg TheoryThe Iceberg Theory is a literary technique coined by Ernest Hemingway asserting that the deeper meaning of a story should not be visible on the surface. By deliberately…
- Post-Literary EraA post-literary era is a cultural epoch where linear alphabetic reading ceases to be the dominant medium for storing, transmitting, and processing human knowledge. It is…
- Show, Don't TellShow, don't tell is a classic creative writing maxim advising authors to convey characters, emotions, and settings through sensory action rather than direct exposition…
- Authorial VoiceAuthorial voice is the distinct personality, stylistic rhythm, and ideological outlook that permeates a writer's work. It serves as an unmistakable literary fingerprint…
- Does Writing Have a Future?Does Writing Have a Future? is a book by Vilém Flusser. In Writing.1, the edition cites it briefly: Flusser bravely argued that writing does not have a future. Issue.16…
- RMS TitanicThe RMS Titanic is the ocean liner that was said to be unsinkable and sank after hitting an iceberg. In the Agency editorial it is the central allegory of the Titanic…
- Existential WritingExistential writing is the philosophical act of writing primarily as a commitment to truth, self-discovery, and human meaning rather than commercial acclaim. It views the…
- Vilém FlusserVilém Flusser is the thinker the Agency editorial cites for arguing that writing does not have a future. Writing.1 ties his name to the book Does Writing have a Future?…
- Al RiesAl Ries was an American marketing consultant and author, known for the books he wrote with Jack Trout, among them Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind and Marketing…