validity
Americannoun
-
the state or quality of being valid.
to question the validity of the argument.
-
legal soundness or force.
Other Word Forms
- nonvalidity noun
- prevalidity noun
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.
None of this has moved the Supreme Court, which has shown no interest in revisiting the validity of the doctrine.
From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026
Search groups say the report still undercounts the missing because of how it assesses the validity of claims.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026
As to whether those trying to impeach Boasberg and Boardman have validity, Vladeck said, “They don’t,” adding that assertions of “abuse” against the judges are “not true.”
From Salon • Feb. 28, 2026
This debut novel gives an important role to the Rev. Morris Green, a devout Lutheran who has begun to question the meaning of the universe and the validity of his own spiritual authority.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2026
Addison himself claimed to be neutral on the subject: he believed in witchcraft in principle, but not in the validity of any particular accusation of witchcraft.
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.
