Validation is confirmation that something is correct, acceptable, or worthy. When a teacher validates your answer by saying “That's exactly right,” she's confirming you got it. When a scientist validates her hypothesis through experiments, she's showing the evidence supports it. When parking garages validate your parking ticket, they're confirming you're allowed to park there.

The word also describes recognizing someone's feelings or experiences as real and reasonable. If you're frustrated about losing a close game and your friend says “I'd be upset too, you played really well,” that's validation. She's acknowledging that your feelings make sense and are understandable. When parents validate a child's fear of the dark instead of dismissing it, they're showing that the fear is understandable, even if there's nothing to actually fear.

People often seek validation for their ideas, feelings, or choices. A student might want validation that their science project idea is worth pursuing. An artist might seek validation that her painting successfully conveys what she intended. But constantly needing validation from others can become exhausting. Learning when you genuinely need outside confirmation and when you can trust your own judgment is an important part of growing up.