validity

validity — noun

1. how well a statement, argument, or theory is supported by facts and reason, so t

1.nounB2
Definition

how well a statement, argument, or theory is supported by facts and reason, so that it can be accepted as true or correct

Example

Bao questioned the validity of the study's findings because the sample was too small.

validity of + noun phrase (study's findings)

The validity of Hana's argument depends on whether the data she used is accurate.

validity as grammatical subject; depends on + whether-clause

Common collocations
  • question the validity of
  • test the validity of
  • doubt the validity of
  • scientific validity
  • statistical validity
  • the validity of a claim
Synonyms
  • soundness

    more technical, often used in logic and philosophy

  • credibility

    emphasises whether something can be believed rather than whether it is formally logical

  • legitimacy

    carries a stronger sense of being justified or rightful, not just fact-based

Antonyms
  • invalidity

    the direct opposite; the state of not being valid

  • unsoundness

    used particularly for arguments or reasoning that are flawed

Grammar Patterns

validity of + noun phrase

Usage Note

Frequently used in academic and formal contexts. The verb commonly paired with this sense is question, test, check, or doubt, and the noun phrase following 'of' usually names a claim, theory, finding, or argument.

Common Mistakes

The lawyer checked the validity contract.
The lawyer checked the validity of the contract.
'validity' must be followed by 'of' before the noun it refers to.
His passport validity is three years.
His passport is valid for three years.
Use the adjective 'valid' instead of the noun 'validity' when talking about how long something lasts.

2. the legal status of a document, agreement, or decision that makes it effective a

2.nounB2
Definition

the legal status of a document, agreement, or decision that makes it effective and accepted by law

Example

A judge will decide on the validity of the contract next week.

decide on the validity of + noun phrase

The validity of a will can be challenged if it was not signed by witnesses.

passive: can be challenged; validity of a will

Common collocations
  • legal validity
  • challenge the validity of
  • decide on the validity of
  • the validity of a contract
  • the validity of a will
  • the validity of a visa
Synonyms
  • legality

    focuses on whether something follows the law, not whether it has binding force

  • lawfulness

    broader term that can apply to actions, not just documents

  • force

    as in 'legal force', emphasises binding power rather than formal acceptance

Antonyms
  • invalidity

    the state of being not legally effective

  • nullity

    a stronger term meaning something has no legal existence at all

Grammar Patterns

validity of + noun phrase

Usage Note

Subject is usually a document, contract, will, visa, permit, or agreement. Common verbs paired with this sense include challenge, check, decide on, review, or lose. This sense does not apply to arguments, theories, or claims.

Common Mistakes

The contract lost validity.
The contract is no longer valid.
In everyday English, the adjective 'valid' is more natural than the noun 'validity' after 'lose'.
The validity of the passport is expired.
The passport has expired.
'Validity' is not used with 'expired'; use the verb 'expire' directly.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Validity, credibility, legitimacy, and soundness all describe why a claim, argument, or piece of information deserves to be taken seriously, but they differ in emphasis. Validity focuses on whether something is logically consistent and factually grounded — a study's findings may be valid because the method was rigorous. Credibility is about trustworthiness: a source with a strong track record has high credibility even if its current claim has not yet been proven. Legitimacy carries a moral or social dimension — a protest may have legitimacy if it reflects genuine public concern, regardless of its logical structure. Soundness is the most technical of the four, used in formal logic and philosophy to describe an argument that is both valid (logically consistent) and has true premises. In everyday academic writing, validity is the broadest term, while the others add specific shades of trust, justification, or technical correctness.

validity ↗credibility ↗legitimacysoundness

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • have validity
  • lose validity
  • in validity
  • the validity of

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Validity comes from the Latin adjective 'validus', meaning strong, healthy, or effective. This passed into French as 'validité' and entered English in the 1500s, first carrying the sense of legal force (a 'valid' contract is one that has legal strength). By the 1600s it had broadened to include logical and factual strength — the idea that a well-built argument, like a well-built body, can withstand testing.