What does validity mean?
Validity is the quality of being sound, justified, effective, or legally binding. Its most familiar use is in the evaluation of arguments: a valid argument is one whose conclusion follows properly from its premises. The word also appears in legal contexts, where it describes the binding force of a contract, law, ruling, or decision. In scientific and administrative writing, validity refers to whether evidence, methods, results, or concerns are appropriate and effective for a particular purpose. For example, researchers may examine the validity of a measuring instrument or challenge the validity of a proposed policy. The word generally carries a formal, analytical tone and often appears when someone is questioning whether something deserves acceptance, credibility, or legal force. It is more precise than simply calling something “good” or “correct,” because it focuses on soundness or effectiveness within a defined framework. Validity can be challenged, established, questioned, or given qualified approval.
nounThe quality of being valid, especially the logical soundness of an argument, the legal force of an agreement or decision, or the effectiveness and appropriateness of something. In a particular context, validity can also mean the quality of being justified or accepted as true.
- The quality of being logically sound, well-founded, and persuasive, especially of an argument, reason, or inference.
- The legal effectiveness or binding force of a contract, law, decision, or other official act.
- The effectiveness, relevance, or appropriateness of a method, concern, result, or action.
- The quality of data or evidence as being reliable, applicable, or acceptable for a specified purpose.
"The committee questioned the validity of the evidence presented by the witness."
"The validity of the argument depends on whether its central premise is true."
"The court considered the legal validity of the agreement when deciding whether to enforce it."
A formal and relatively uncommon plural, used when referring to separate instances or kinds of validity.
"The researchers compared the validities of several statistical methods."
Validity comes from the Latin validus, meaning “sound” or “effective”: the same idea that keeps an argument standing and a contract binding.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
How validity is actually used
A formal and often technical term. It is especially common in academic, legal, philosophical, scientific, and administrative contexts, and may suggest that an issue is being examined critically rather than merely described.
Easily confused with validity
Validity concerns whether something is logically sound, legally effective, or properly justified, whereas credibility concerns whether a person or source is believable and trustworthy.
Validity can apply to arguments, methods, decisions, or evidence, while legality refers specifically to whether something conforms to the law.