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.
However, a quick independent analysis of the data now casts doubt on the validity of these findings. Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 1 May 2025 That's led to some questions on the validity of this phenomenon. Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 1 May 2025 The first time a user logs in using Microsoft or Azure account credentials, RDP will confirm the password's validity online. Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2025 While passport books and cards offer the same length of validity, the card is for U.S. citizens traveling domestically by land and sea from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and some Caribbean countries. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Validity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/validity. Accessed 9 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

validity

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

More from Merriam-Webster on validity

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