Validity
n.thoughtful, capableprofessional
What it means
The quality of being sound, accurate, or justified.
Reach for it when assessing whether a claim, method, or inference is sound for its stated purpose
Fresh evidence strengthened the validity of the original conclusion.
Choose between these
7- everyday
accuracy
closeness to the true value is measurable
not when Accurate data can support an invalid inference.
- everyday
correctness
a result matches the required answer
not when Correctness can be accidental and method-free.
- professional
applicability
fitness for a particular case is the question
not when Applicability does not show the method works.
- professional
credibility
believability of a source or account matters
not when Credibility is a judgment and may precede proof.
- professional
soundness
reasoning withstands logical examination
not when Soundness does not establish factual accuracy by itself.
- formal
force
a rule or argument has binding effect
not when Force is narrower than general correctness.
- formal
rightful authority or acceptance is disputed
not when Legitimacy concerns standing, not experimental design.
Said against
3- invalidity
- unsoundness
- inaccuracy
It naturally appears in
3- construct validity
The study tested construct validity before comparing the two groups.
- question the validity
New timestamps led the panel to question the validity of the timeline.
- establish validity
Independent trials helped establish validity across different settings.
The word family
1Where this comes from
- Wiktionary, English noun, soundness or well-founded quality sense opens in a new tab · 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.