Meaning & use
validate
Last updated
To officially confirm that something is true, accurate, or legally acceptable, or to make someone feel that their feelings or opinions are reasonable.
See it in a sentence
The lab results validated the scientist's initial hypothesis.
A good friend will validate your feelings even when they disagree with your decision.
A note on using this word
In everyday and psychological contexts, 'validate' often means acknowledging someone's emotions as understandable, separate from its technical meaning of confirming facts or documents.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
invalidaterefute
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