validate
verb
Did you know?
When validate first entered the language in the mid-17th century, its meaning was tied fast to its close relative, the adjective valid, meaning “executed with the proper legal authority and formalities”: to validate something, such as a marriage or treaty, was to make it legally valid. This meaning is still current, but the word is now used in nonlegal and informal contexts as well. If the museum you visit validates your parking garage ticket, you're given an official mark on the ticket and you do not have to pay full price for parking. If someone’s claims cannot be validated, those claims cannot be confirmed. And if a coach puts an untested player into the game and the player scores the winning point, the player’s strong performance validates the coach’s decision.
Examples of validate in a Sentence
Mark Niesse For The Ajc, AJC.com, 13 Feb. 2026
However, city spokesman Erik Johnson said the city clerk requires 30 days to validate petitions to ensure a sufficient number of signatures are from qualified voters — and the deadline for Austin City Council to call a May election is on Friday.
—Chaya Tong, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026
These tests validated the test vehicle’s structural reliability and integrity ahead of upcoming flight tests.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2026
Does that mean Oklahoma City, the champion last season and the team with the best record this season, is the small-market team that validates the NBA salary cap?
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for validate
Cite this Entry
“Validate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/validate. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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validate
verb
Legal Definition
validate
transitive verb
