validity

noun

va·​lid·​i·​ty və-ˈli-də-tē How to pronounce validity (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recently, it was revealed that Tommy Zeigler, who spent 48 years on Florida’s death row, may be exonerated thanks to new DNA evidence that challenges the validity of his 1976 conviction. Letters To The Editor, Orlando Sentinel, 4 Feb. 2025 Israel also shortened the validity of all visas for UNRWA’s international staff to Wednesday, the UN said. Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN, 30 Jan. 2025 However, that paper was retracted because of undeclared competing interests on the part of the author and concerns about the validity of the methods and statistical analysis. Will Stone, NPR, 30 Jan. 2025 Listen to this article The City Council’s small Republican caucus is facing an internal crisis after half of its members contested the validity of an election for a new minority leader that took place Tuesday and elevated Staten Island Councilman David Carr to the role. Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 28 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for validity 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1577, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of validity was circa 1577

Dictionary Entries Near validity

Cite this Entry

“Validity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/validity. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

validity

noun
va·​lid·​i·​ty
və-ˈlid-ət-ē,
va-
: the quality or state of being valid
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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