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

Olivier isn’t challenging the validity of his conviction to get relief or to seek monetary damages, Justice Elena Kagan wrote. —Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026

The climate-change assertion also has validity, according to the United Nations. —John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 19 Mar. 2026

And Google Deepmind’s Aletheia agent seemed to get six (although experts aren’t unanimous on the validity of one of these proofs). —Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 16 Mar. 2026

Some economists have questioned the validity of the JOLTS data, in part due to the survey’s low response rate and sometimes sizable revisions. —Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 14 Mar. 2026

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