validate
v.to prove that something is true, correct, or useful. You also use this when you check that a ticket or document is legal and ready to use.
v.to demonstrate or support the truth or value of something; to give official sanction or legal force to a document or process. Often involves checking for compliance with established standards or rules.
“The scientist ran more tests to validate the results.”
“You must validate your train ticket at the machine on the platform before you board.”
“The recent market data serves to validate the company's long-term strategy of investing in renewable energy despite the initial high costs.”
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object, such as a theory, a feeling, or a document.
Learners often use the past participle alone as a main verb; 'validate' requires an auxiliary verb in the passive voice.
“The "context muscle" is trained by developing deeper relationships with potential mentors or "anchors," who can serve as mirrors and validate identity in times of instability, due to the socially constructed nature of identity.”
“At checkout, the retailer validates the signed authorization record and evaluates the proposed purchase against it.”
First attested in 1648; borrowed from Medieval Latin validātus (“to validate”) (perhaps through Middle French valider), the perfect passive participle of validō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from validus + -ō (verb-forming suffix). By surface analysis, valid + -ate.
First attested in 1586; borrowed from Medieval Latin validātus, see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and Etymolgy 1 for more.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.