1. plural of authenticator; devices, software, or methods used to verify the identity of a user or system
Usage: commonly used in computing and cybersecurity contexts; often refers to hardware tokens, apps, or biometric systems
2. people or entities that confirm or validate the authenticity of something
Usage: less common than the technical sense

Examples

• Many banks now require authenticators like fingerprint scanners for secure login.
• Two-factor authentication uses authenticators such as SMS codes or app-generated tokens.
• Hardware authenticators are small devices that generate one-time passwords.
• The company deployed authenticators across all employee accounts to improve security.
• Biometric authenticators, including facial recognition, are becoming more common in smartphones.