validity

noun

va·​lid·​i·​ty və-ˈli-də-tē 

va-

: the quality or state of being valid: such as

a

: the state of being acceptable according to the law

The validity of the contract is being questioned.

What the federal courts have ruled … is that renunciations made behind barbed wire were essentially under duress, and thus of no legal validity.

—Roger Daniels

b

: the quality of being well-grounded, sound, or correct

the validity of an argument/theory

Other researchers have questioned the validity of the test results.

Later he acknowledged that there was no validity to his report.

—David Hiltbrand

Examples of validity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The decision by Suffolk County Supreme Court Judge Timothy Mazzei is an important win for prosecutors and a blow for the defense team that challenged the validity of this type of technology that specializes in extracting nuclear DNA from damaged or hard-to-get samples, such as rootless hair. —Mark Morales, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2025

Exemptions apply to certain categories, including diplomatic and official visas (A, G, NATO classifications), as well as applicants renewing a full-validity B-1, B-2, or B-1/B-2 visa or a Border Crossing Card within 12 months of expiration, provided specific conditions are met. —Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025

The carrier scrapped change and cancellation fees, extended voucher validity, and raised the free bag weight to 50 pounds. —Will McGough, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025

The election date was delayed as the company challenged the validity of an attempt by employees to unionize. —Olivia Evans, The Courier-Journal, 29 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1577, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for validity

• acidity
• aridity
• avidity
• cupidity
• fluidity
• humidity
• liquidity
• lucidity
• morbidity
• placidity
• rancidity
• rapidity

Kids Definition

validity

noun

va·​lid·​i·​ty

və-ˈlid-ət-ē,

va-

: the quality or state of being valid