validation

American  

[val-i-dey-shuhn] / ˌvæl ɪˈdeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of confirming something as true or correct: You will be prompted to enter your new password a second time for validation.

   The new method is very promising but requires validation through further testing.

   You will be prompted to enter your new password a second time for validation.

2. the act of officially or legally certifying or approving something.

   The proposal will be prioritized and put into action after it undergoes validation by the government.

3. the act of affirming a person, or their ideas, feelings, actions, etc., as acceptable and worthy.

   Recognition and validation of minority cultures by classroom teachers is crucial to student wellbeing and success.

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Other Word Forms

• nonvalidation noun
• revalidation noun

Etymology

Origin of validation

valid(ate) ( def. ) + -ation ( def. )

Explanation

Validation is making sure that something is true. Even if you know you're a great poet, you may still long for the validation of being awarded a literary prize or having a volume of your poems published by a respected press. Your winning lottery ticket may require validation — lottery officials have to check it to make sure it's not counterfeit and that you really do have the winning numbers. The word validation is formed from the Latin word for "strong," validus, and validation makes something strong. You may claim that you've danced more tango turns than anyone else in the history of the world, but you'll have to wait for someone from Guinness World Records to give your claim validation.

Example Sentences

The U.S. quantum ecosystem spans dozens of companies, research organizations, and start-ups, and government involvement has typically centered on funding and validation “rather than selecting national champions.”

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

Instead, it integrates many disparate elements of a business’ enterprise tech stack and internal models or processes, and is able to push out decisions through read-write loops while maintaining compliance and data validation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

It marks a massive validation moment for a show that was able to score inside access while maintaining the trust of viewers and sources alike.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

"Fifa point to their unconfirmed sales figures as validation of their unfair ticket practices, while the reality is they leave loyal fans with no other choice - pay up or lose out," Evain said.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

Based on numbers, it has a limitless complexity to engage the ingenuity and creativity of its adherents, without burdening them with the need for validation or testing.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos

Related Words

• acceptance
• affirmation
• authorization
• corroboration
• endorsement
• proof
• recognition
• verification