validity
Americannoun
-
the state or quality of being valid.
to question the validity of the argument.
-
legal soundness or force.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of validity
First recorded in 1540–50; from Late Latin validitās; equivalent to valid + -ity
Explanation
When you test something's validity, you see if it holds true. Are these really the best chocolate chip cookies in the world? You might enjoy testing the validity of this statement. The noun validity means genuine or authentic, but it also has a legal meaning: having legal force. Your family asked the judge to determine the validity of your grandfather's will because they weren't sure he was legally allowed to leave all his worldly goods to "the little green men from Mars." Related words include the adjective "valid" and its antonym "invalid," as well as the verb "validate."
Vocabulary lists containing validity
"The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet," Vocabulary from Act 3
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Marbury v. Madison (1803)
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"Simon's Saga," Vocabulary from Episode 7
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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.
ICJ judges have been asked to rule on the validity of the border established between the two countries in 1899 under British colonial rule.
From Barron's • May 6, 2026
The validity of the social media posts are under scrutiny.
From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026
Public officials don’t always examine the validity of health claims, according to Rule.
From Salon • Apr. 27, 2026
When they tried to check in online for the flight the day before departure, United told them they didn’t have enough validity left on their passports.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
In fact, Gassendi points out, when the microscope was invented both the pores in the skin and the legs of the mite became visible, thus confirming the validity of earlier arguments to prove their existence.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
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.
