Validity
/vəˈlɪdəti/
Definitions
2 meaningsThe state of being legally sound or logically correct; the quality of being based on truth or reason.
/vəˈlɪdəti/
The state of being legally or officially binding or acceptable.
The validity of his argument was supported by strong evidence.
💡 Simply: Validity is like making sure something is true or right. Like, if you say your ticket is valid, it means you can use it. If a test has validity, it means it's actually measuring what it's supposed to measure, not something else.
👶 For kids: Being valid means something is real and correct, like your library card is valid so you can borrow books.
More Examples
The judge upheld the validity of the will.
The company’s claims about its products’ effectiveness lacked scientific validity.
How It's Used
"The validity of the contract was challenged in court."
"The study's validity was questioned due to methodological flaws."
The state of being officially or legally acceptable; the length of time something is usable or effective.
/vəˈlɪdəti/
The state of being officially acceptable or binding.
The visa had a six-month validity.
💡 Simply: The time something is good for. Like when your driver's license is valid, it means you're allowed to drive until the date on the license. It is often used in passports or other documents that are good for a specific timeframe.
👶 For kids: How long something is good for, like a ticket to the movies is valid for one showing.
More Examples
Check the validity of your credit card before making a purchase.
The validity of the parking permit expired last week.
How It's Used
"Ensure your passport has a sufficient validity period before traveling."
Synonyms & Antonyms
From Latin *validus* (strong, powerful) + -ity (suffix forming nouns expressing quality or state). The concept of validity evolved in legal and logical contexts, then spread to other fields, particularly science and research.
The concept of validity became increasingly important in the 19th and 20th centuries, particularly in the fields of law and science, as societies sought to establish objective criteria for truth and correctness.
Memory tip
Think of something being 'valid' as being 'true' or 'correct'. Validity is the *state* of that truth or correctness.
Word Origin
"strong, powerful"