Validate is a verba word that shows an action, state, or occurrence with several related meanings. It can mean to confirm that something is true, to make something legallyaccording to the law; in a way the law recognizes or officiallyin an authorized, formal, or recognized way valid, or to mark or check something so it can be used.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈvælɪdeɪt/
Easy pronunciation: VAL-i-date (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress on the first syllable.
Uses the sense 'make valid or confirm the validity of' as a verb.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Validate Meaning
to check or confirm that something is valid, correct, or acceptable
Part of speech: verb
Definition: make valid or confirm the validity of
Example: Please validate your parking ticket before you leave.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- corroborate — Works for the meaning of supporting or confirming evidence, but it is less common in everyday use than validate.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Validate
Meaning 2
to support something with evidence
Part of speech: verb
Definition: give evidence for
Example: The new data validate the researchers' theory.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- corroborate — A direct synonym in this sense.
Meaning 3
to make something officially or legally valid
Part of speech: verb
Definition: declare or make legally valid
Example: The court validated the agreement.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- formalise — British spelling.
- formalize — American spelling.
Meaning 4
to prove that something is valid or justified
Part of speech: verb
Definition: prove valid; show or confirm the validity of something
Example: The findings validate our original hypothesis.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- corroborate — Possible when the idea is proving something true with supporting evidence, though it is not always a perfect match.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Validate Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- corroborate
to make something officially or legally valid
- formalise
- formalize
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse validate with invalidate, which means to make something invalid or cancel its effect.
- In everyday English, validate often means to stamp, check, or approve something so it can be used, like a ticket or parking receipt.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does validate mean in simple English?
It means to check, confirm, or make something valid, acceptable, or officially correct.
What is a common example of validate?
You might say, 'Please validate my parking ticket,' meaning to mark it so it is accepted for parking.
What are the best synonyms for validate?
Common synonyms depend on the sense. Corroborate fits the meaning of supporting something with evidence, while formalise or formalize fit the legal or official meaning.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
