Etymology and origin of the Portuguese word validação
- Confidence
- Probable
- Formation
- Derivation
- First attested
- 1597 More words from the 16th century
- Ultimate origin
- Latin validus
Etymology tree
From the same root
Pronunciation
Forms
validação f (plural validações)[1]
Etymology
Houaiss, Aurélio, the DLP and Wiktionary take it as formed from Portuguese validar + -ção.[2][3][4][1] Cunha instead dates it to the 17th century and calls it an adaptation of French validation, as he takes the verb validar from valider.[5] Houaiss records the noun in 1597, earlier than his first date for the verb, 1650.[2][6]
The verb comes from Late Latin validō (“to strengthen”), from validus (“strong”).[6][1]
Semantic evolution
The first sense is the act of making or declaring something valid;[2][7] Vieira (1871–1874) illustrates it with the validation of a marriage.[2][7] In law the word names the legitimation of an act that makes it legally effective, and in computing the test that checks data entered into a system against set rules.[2][8]
Timeline
- 1597 – first record.[2]
- 17th century – Cunha's date for the word.[5]
- 1650 – the verb validar is recorded.[6]
- 1813 – the form validição.[2]
- 1871–1874 – Vieira defines it as the act of validating.[7]
Meanings
Noun
- The act of validating (validar): making or declaring something valid or legitimate.[2][9][1]
- (law) The legitimation of an act in accordance with the law, which makes it legally effective.[2][10]
- (computing) A test that checks the correctness of data entered into a system against established rules and standards.[2][3]
Related words
- validar
- válido
- validade
- French validation
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Houaiss, Antônio; Villar, Mauro de Salles (2001), Dicionário Houaiss da língua portuguesa, Rio de Janeiro: Objetiva, p. s.v. validação
- ^ a b Ferreira, Aurélio Buarque de Holanda, Novo dicionário Aurélio da língua portuguesa, digital edition, p. s.v. validação
- ^ Academia das Ciências de Lisboa, Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa, revised online edition (2023–) of the Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa Contemporânea (2001), https://dicionario.acad-ciencias.pt, p. s.v. validação
- ^ a b Cunha, Antônio Geraldo da (2010), Dicionário etimológico da língua portuguesa, 4th ed., Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon, p. s.v. valer
- ^ a b c Houaiss, Antônio; Villar, Mauro de Salles (2001), Dicionário Houaiss da língua portuguesa, Rio de Janeiro: Objetiva, p. s.v. validar
- ^ a b c Vieira, Frei Domingos (1871–1874), Grande Diccionario Portuguez ou Thesouro da lingua portugueza, 5 vols., Porto: Ernesto Chardron e Bartholomeu H. de Moraes, p. 5, 875
- ^ Aulete, Francisco Júlio Caldas, Dicionário contemporâneo da língua portuguesa (1st ed. 1881), online as Aulete Digital, Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon, https://aulete.com.br, p. s.v. validação
- ^ Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa, Lisboa: Priberam Informática, https://dicionario.priberam.org, p. s.v. validação
- ^ Michaelis: Moderno Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa, São Paulo: Melhoramentos (online as Michaelis Dicionário Brasileiro da Língua Portuguesa, https://michaelis.uol.com.br), p. s.v. validação
Cite this entry
“Validação.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/pt/valida%C3%A7%C3%A3o. Accessed 16 Nov. 2026.
Last edited on . ·