# validity

/vəˈɫɪdəti/ (US) · /vælˈɪdɪti/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/validity
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. truth or logic

noun · CEFR B2 · Academic

the quality of being based on truth or sound reasoning.

For teachers: the state of being logically or factually sound; the quality of being well-grounded in evidence.

- The lawyer questioned the validity of the witness's claims during the trial.
- The researchers spent months gathering data to ensure the validity of their conclusions before submitting the paper for peer review.

### 2. legal force

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

the state of being legally acceptable or official.

For teachers: the state of being legally binding or officially acceptable under a set of rules.

- The contract lost its validity after the deadline passed.
- The court ruled that the document lacked legal validity because it had not been signed in the presence of a notary.

### 3. scientific accuracy

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical · Academic

how well a test or experiment actually measures what it says it is measuring.

For teachers: the extent to which a concept, conclusion, or measurement is well-founded and corresponds accurately to the real world.

- The scientists checked the validity of the test to make sure the results were correct.
- Critics argued that the study lacked external validity, as the results from the small laboratory group could not be applied to the general population.

## Examples

- The lawyer questioned the validity of the witness's statement.
- Researchers must ensure the validity of their data before publishing the results in a scientific journal.
- While the emotional core of the argument resonated with the audience, critics were quick to point out that the logical validity of the premise remained unproven.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.