Other forms: validations
Validation is being told that what you feel makes sense. Seek validation, emotional validation, need for validation.
In therapy it means acknowledging somebody's feelings as understandable, which is not the same as agreeing with them — and that distinction is what makes it useful. Seeking external validation is used as a mild criticism of needing others' approval. The other senses are technical: validation of a method, of data, of a ticket. Note validate; and that the Latin means making strong.
1nounvalidationBeing told that what you feel makes sense.
“After a hard day, she didn't want advice; she just wanted some validation.”
2nounconfirmationConfirmation that a method or datum is sound.
“The new test needs validation in a larger study before hospitals can use it.”
validation is an acknowledging or confirming.
Validation comes from validate, from Latin validus, strong. Valid, value and prevail come from the same strength.
Proto-Indo-European
*h₂welh₁-
Middle French
validation
English, today
validation
From Middle French validation. by surface analysis, validate + -ion.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA