validate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to make valid; substantiate; confirm.
Time validated our suspicions.
- Synonyms:
- prove, verify, authenticate
- Antonyms:
- disprove
-
to give legal force to; legalize.
-
to give official sanction, confirmation, or approval to, as elected officials, election procedures, documents, etc..
to validate a passport.
verb
-
to confirm or corroborate
-
to give legal force or official confirmation to; declare legally valid
Other Word Forms
- revalidate verb (used with object)
- unvalidated adjective
- unvalidating adjective
- validation noun
- validator noun
- validatory adjective
Etymology
Origin of validate
First recorded in 1640–50; from Medieval Latin validātus (past participle of validāre “to make valid”), equivalent to valid- ( valid ) + -ātus past participle suffix ( -ate 1 )
Explanation
To validate is to prove that something is based on truth or fact, or is acceptable. It can also mean to make something, like a contract, legal. You may need someone to validate your feelings, which means that you want to hear, “No, you’re not crazy. It’s acceptable to be angry about that.” Or you may need someone to validate your parking ticket — which means you have to prove that you bought something, so you can get parking for free. Whatever it is you are seeking to validate needs the added support or action from someone else to make it valid.
Vocabulary lists containing validate
The SAT: Language of the Test, List 2
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The New SAT: The Language of the Test
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The ACT: The Language of the Test, List 3
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Miners use specialized computers to validate transactions and earn newly minted bitcoin and transaction fees, making their businesses highly sensitive to bitcoin prices, electricity costs and the efficiency of their machines.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026
They also intend to validate their models using larger and more diverse patient groups, as well as investigate whether these biomarkers could help predict additional related diseases in the future.
From Science Daily • Apr. 4, 2026
Horror-novel fans had speculated online for months about the book’s authorship, and in January Pangram CEO Max Spero stepped in to validate the chatter.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
After 2040, the Chinese lunar base will be used to "validate technology and capabilities for a manned mission to Mars", according to the CNSA.
From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026
Annie looked to the side, like there was somebody else who could validate Luke’s weirdness.
From "We'll Fly Away" by Bryan Bliss
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
