Validation
n.capable, calmprofessional
Meaning 1
Evidence-based confirmation that a result, method, or system is sound for a stated purpose.
Reach for it when naming the process that establishes accuracy or fitness for use
External validation showed that the model performed similarly in rural clinics.
Choose between these
4- everyday
testing
when the examination itself should be named neutrally
not when Testing may reveal failure or uncertainty, while validation reports successful support.
- professional
confirmation
when later evidence supports an earlier finding
not when Confirmation can be informal and does not necessarily test a full method.
- professional
when accuracy is checked against a rule, source, or observation
not when Verification asks whether something is correct; validation often asks whether it is suitable for the intended use.
- formal
substantiation
when proof is needed for a disputed claim
not when Substantiation is claim-focused and sounds unnatural for a product or model lifecycle.
Meaning 2
Recognition that a person's feeling or experience is real and understandable.
Reach for it when naming supportive acknowledgment without confusing it with blanket agreement
Her careful summary offered validation without pretending the loss could be fixed.
Choose between these
4- everyday
when being openly recognized is the important step
not when Acknowledgment does not always say that the feeling is understandable.
- warm
when supportive words strengthen dignity or confidence
not when Affirmation is more approving and can blur the boundary between feelings and conclusions.
- warm
when understanding another person's perspective is the central quality
not when Empathy is a capacity or response, not the specific act of validating.
- professional
when an experience is accepted as real or important
not when Recognition can feel institutional rather than personally supportive.
Said against
4- invalidation
- refutation
- dismissal
- denial
It naturally appears in
4- independent validation
Independent validation exposed one weakness and confirmed the main result.
- validation process
The validation process included users who rely on screen readers.
- emotional validation
Emotional validation helped the child name anger without acting cruelly.
- seek validation
She learned to seek validation without surrendering her own judgment.
Where this comes from
- Wiktionary, English noun sense: act or process of making or declaring something valid opens in a new tab for meaning 1 · retrieved 2026-07-26
- Wiktionary, English noun sense: acknowledgment of a person's feelings as worthwhile opens in a new tab for meaning 2 · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.