Definition

Noun: 1. The state of being logically or factually sound; the quality of being based on truth or reason. This refers to the correctness and strength of an argument, method, or conclusion. 2. The state of being legally or officially acceptable or binding. This refers to something having force in law or under specific rules. 3. The state of being well-grounded, defensible, or justifiable. This is a more general sense of being acceptable or legitimate.

Usage

Validity is an uncountable noun. It is used to describe the quality or state of something being valid. Common collocations include: test the validity, challenge the validity, establish the validity, the validity of a claim/argument/passport/contract.

Examples

1. Logical/Factual Soundness:
   • Scientists questioned the validity of the experimental results.
   • The validity of his argument depends on several unproven assumptions.
2. Legal/Official Acceptability:
   • You must check the validity of your visa before traveling.
   • The court upheld the validity of the will.
3. Being Well-Grounded:
   • She raised serious doubts about the validity of that historical theory.

Advanced Usage

• Internal Validity: (In research) The extent to which a study establishes a trustworthy cause-and-effect relationship.
  • The experiment's design ensured high internal validity.
• External Validity: (In research) The extent to which the results of a study can be generalized to other situations and people.
  • Critics argued the study lacked external validity.
• Face Validity: The degree to which a test or procedure appears effective in terms of its stated aims.
  • The survey had good face validity as it asked relevant questions.

Variants and Related Words

• Valid (adjective): Having a sound basis in logic or fact; legally acceptable.
  • a valid passport, a valid excuse
• Validate (verb): To check or prove the validity of something; to make something legally valid.
  • to validate a theory, to validate a ticket
• Validation (noun): The action of validating something.
  • The document requires official validation.

Synonyms

• Soundness (for arguments/logic)
• Cogency (for arguments)
• Legitimacy (for legal/authoritative status)
• Force (as in legal force)
• Effectiveness

Antonyms

• Invalidity
• Fallacy (for logical arguments)
• Illegitimacy

Related Phrases

• Period of validity / Term of validity: The length of time for which something (like a license or ticket) remains valid.
  • The passport has a period of validity of ten years.
• To challenge the validity of something: To formally question whether something is valid.
  • The defense lawyer challenged the validity of the evidence.

Noun

1. the property of being strong and healthy in constitution
2. the quality of having legal force or effectiveness
3. the quality of being valid and rigorous