validation

Noun

validation (countable and uncountable, plural validations)

1. The act of validating something.
   • In reality, brains go overboard with this sort of fear validation. They love any chance to prove a fear is valid while ignoring all the reasons it's not.2021, Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan, “What is... jealousy?”, in Let's Talk About It, →ISBN, page 190
2. Something, such as a certificate, that validates something; attestation, authentication, confirmation, proof or verification.
3. The process whereby others confirm the validity of one's emotions or perspective.
   • Praise is a judgment. It says, “I like the way you look or perform.” Validation demonstrates acceptance. It says, “I accept who you are, independent of how you look or perform.” When people claim that we shouldn’t rely on “external validation,” they are confusing validation with praise.2025 March 19, Caroline Fleck, PhD, The Life-Changing Skill That Isn’t About You: How Validation Transforms Connection
4. (US) The process of identifying a new prisoner's gang affiliation.