validity
UK: vəˈlɪdəti | US: vəˈlɪdəti
n. the quality of being logically or factually sound; legal acceptability
n. the state of being legally or officially binding
n. (statistics) the extent to which a measurement reflects what it claims to measure
The root "valid" originates from Latin validus (strong, effective), derived from valere (to be strong). The suffix "-ity" (from Latin -itas) forms abstract nouns indicating a state or condition. Together, "validity" evolved in Late Middle English to denote legal enforceability, later expanding to logical and scientific contexts. The progression reflects a shift from physical strength to conceptual soundness.
The validity of the contract was questioned due to missing signatures.
Researchers ensured the validity of their data through rigorous testing.
Her argument lacked validity because it relied on outdated sources.
The court upheld the validity of the new law.
In philosophy, validity refers to the correctness of an argument's structure.