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 Newman refuted these critiques and defended her book’s validity. Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2023 While there is validity to the opinions of many social media influencers, Yelp commenters or even your aunt’s tip about her friend’s son who has a new restaurant, true restaurant criticism is an essential — and endangered — art. Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2023 In Coq, each step of the proof is essentially a program, and the proof’s validity is checked with type-checking algorithms. Sheon Han, Quanta Magazine, 11 Oct. 2023 Ho said further studies of the validity of the CLT are crucial. Nick Anderson, Washington Post, 6 Oct. 2023 However, choosing whether to believe that astrology has validity is, in some ways, missing the point. WIRED, 5 Oct. 2023 But as Hall became adamant on accusations of fraud after the 2020 election and then started claiming he was being followed, Bossie called Shafer to ask whether Hall’s claims had any validity, the person familiar with the situation said. Isaac Stanley-Becker, Anchorage Daily News, 19 Sep. 2023 Rather, the case challenges the validity of his real estate business, the Trump Organization, and some of its dealings. Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling, The New Republic, 23 Oct. 2023 Pointing out that a problem has antecedents does not compromise its validity. Meghan O'Gieblyn, WIRED, 12 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'validity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 2 Dec. 2023.

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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