diff --git a/src/Forms/Form.php b/src/Forms/Form.php
index 69151c12145..ce78802151e 100644
--- a/src/Forms/Form.php
+++ b/src/Forms/Form.php
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 use SilverStripe\View\AttributesHTML;
 use SilverStripe\View\SSViewer;
 use SilverStripe\View\ViewableData;
+use SilverStripe\Dev\Deprecation;
 
 /**
  * Base class for all forms.
@@ -1243,6 +1244,18 @@ public function getLegend()
         return $this->legend;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Alias of validate() for backwards compatibility.
+     *
+     * @return ValidationResult
+     * @deprecated 5.4.0 Use validate() instead
+     */
+    public function validationResult()
+    {
+        Deprecation::notice('5.4.0', 'Use validate() instead');
+        return $this->validate();
+    }
+
     /**
      * Processing that occurs before a form is executed.
      *
@@ -1254,13 +1267,10 @@ public function getLegend()
      *
      * Triggered through {@link httpSubmission()}.
      *
-     *
      * Note that CSRF protection takes place in {@link httpSubmission()},
      * if it fails the form data will never reach this method.
-     *
-     * @return ValidationResult
-     */
-    public function validationResult()
+    */
+    public function validate(): ValidationResult
     {
         // Automatically pass if there is no validator, or the clicked button is exempt
         // Note: Soft support here for validation with absent request handler
diff --git a/src/Forms/FormRequestHandler.php b/src/Forms/FormRequestHandler.php
index 1071f92aba8..69deb991bf2 100644
--- a/src/Forms/FormRequestHandler.php
+++ b/src/Forms/FormRequestHandler.php
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ public function httpSubmission($request)
         // Action handlers may throw ValidationExceptions.
         try {
             // Or we can use the Validator attached to the form
-            $result = $this->form->validationResult();
+            $result = $this->form->validate();
             if (!$result->isValid()) {
                 return $this->getValidationErrorResponse($result);
             }
diff --git a/tests/php/Forms/CompositeValidatorTest.php b/tests/php/Forms/CompositeValidatorTest.php
index bcd79a41caf..422935a7156 100644
--- a/tests/php/Forms/CompositeValidatorTest.php
+++ b/tests/php/Forms/CompositeValidatorTest.php
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ public function testValidate(): void
         // Put data into the form so the validator can pull it back out again
         $form->loadDataFrom($data);
 
-        $result = $form->validationResult();
+        $result = $form->validate();
         $this->assertFalse($result->isValid());
         $this->assertCount(2, $result->getMessages());
     }
@@ -187,14 +187,14 @@ public function testRemoveValidation(): void
         // Put data into the form so the validator can pull it back out again
         $form->loadDataFrom($data);
 
-        $result = $form->validationResult();
+        $result = $form->validate();
         $this->assertFalse($result->isValid());
         $this->assertCount(1, $result->getMessages());
 
         // Make sure it doesn't fail after removing validation AND has no errors (since calling validate should
         // reset errors)
         $compositeValidator->removeValidation();
-        $result = $form->validationResult();
+        $result = $form->validate();
         $this->assertTrue($result->isValid());
         $this->assertEmpty($result->getMessages());
     }
diff --git a/tests/php/Forms/FieldsValidatorTest.php b/tests/php/Forms/FieldsValidatorTest.php
index 8c958bcd348..b24005e7448 100644
--- a/tests/php/Forms/FieldsValidatorTest.php
+++ b/tests/php/Forms/FieldsValidatorTest.php
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ public function testValidation(array $values, bool $isValid)
         }
         $form = new Form(null, 'testForm', $fieldList, new FieldList([/* no actions */]), new FieldsValidator());
 
-        $result = $form->validationResult();
+        $result = $form->validate();
         $this->assertSame($isValid, $result->isValid());
         $messages = $result->getMessages();
         if ($isValid) {
diff --git a/tests/php/Forms/FileFieldTest.php b/tests/php/Forms/FileFieldTest.php
index 18e397d30f5..2bf65a5e5d0 100644
--- a/tests/php/Forms/FileFieldTest.php
+++ b/tests/php/Forms/FileFieldTest.php
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ public function testUploadRequiredFile()
         ];
         $fileField->setValue($fileFieldValue);
 
-        $this->assertTrue($form->validationResult()->isValid());
+        $this->assertTrue($form->validate()->isValid());
     }
 
     /**
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ public function testUploadMissingRequiredFile()
         $fileField->setValue($fileFieldValue);
 
         $this->assertFalse(
-            $form->validationResult()->isValid(),
+            $form->validate()->isValid(),
             'An error occurred when uploading a file, but the validator returned true'
         );
 
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ public function testUploadMissingRequiredFile()
         $fileField->setValue($fileFieldValue);
 
         $this->assertFalse(
-            $form->validationResult()->isValid(),
+            $form->validate()->isValid(),
             'An empty array was passed as parameter for an uploaded file, but the validator returned true'
         );
 
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ public function testUploadMissingRequiredFile()
         $fileField->setValue($fileFieldValue);
 
         $this->assertFalse(
-            $form->validationResult()->isValid(),
+            $form->validate()->isValid(),
             'A null value was passed as parameter for an uploaded file, but the validator returned true'
         );
     }
diff --git a/tests/php/Forms/FormFieldTest.php b/tests/php/Forms/FormFieldTest.php
index 07d6c126884..d19b0148e7f 100644
--- a/tests/php/Forms/FormFieldTest.php
+++ b/tests/php/Forms/FormFieldTest.php
@@ -469,7 +469,7 @@ public function testGetSchemaStateWithFormValidation()
         $field = new FormField('MyField', 'My Field');
         $validator = new RequiredFields('MyField');
         $form = new Form(null, 'TestForm', new FieldList($field), new FieldList(), $validator);
-        $form->validationResult();
+        $form->validate();
         $schema = $field->getSchemaState();
         $this->assertEquals(
             '"My Field" is required',
@@ -498,7 +498,7 @@ public function testValidationExtensionHooks()
 
         // Ensure messages set via updateValidationResult() propagate through to form fields after validation
         $form = new Form(null, 'TestForm', new FieldList($field), new FieldList(), new RequiredFields());
-        $form->validationResult();
+        $form->validate();
         $schema = $field->getSchemaState();
         $this->assertEquals(
             'A test error message',
diff --git a/tests/php/Forms/FormSchemaTest.php b/tests/php/Forms/FormSchemaTest.php
index c032f3a5372..d4f05bcc3f2 100644
--- a/tests/php/Forms/FormSchemaTest.php
+++ b/tests/php/Forms/FormSchemaTest.php
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ public function testGetStateWithFieldValidationErrors()
             'Title' => null,
             ]
         );
-        $this->assertFalse($form->validationResult()->isValid());
+        $this->assertFalse($form->validate()->isValid());
         $formSchema = new FormSchema();
         $expected = [
             'id' => 'Form_TestForm',
diff --git a/tests/php/Forms/FormTest.php b/tests/php/Forms/FormTest.php
index 8b97293443a..05ad1f2055f 100644
--- a/tests/php/Forms/FormTest.php
+++ b/tests/php/Forms/FormTest.php
@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@ public function testLookupFieldDisabledSaving()
         $form->saveInto($object);
         $playersIds = $object->Players()->getIDList();
 
-        $this->assertTrue($form->validationResult()->isValid());
+        $this->assertTrue($form->validate()->isValid());
         $this->assertEquals(
             $playersIds,
             [],
diff --git a/tests/php/Forms/GridField/GridFieldTest.php b/tests/php/Forms/GridField/GridFieldTest.php
index 642460aa5ac..859e9b54432 100644
--- a/tests/php/Forms/GridField/GridFieldTest.php
+++ b/tests/php/Forms/GridField/GridFieldTest.php
@@ -637,7 +637,7 @@ public function testValidationMessageInOutput()
         $form = new Form(null, "testForm", $fieldList, new FieldList(), $validator);
 
         // A form that fails validation should display the validation error in the FieldHolder output.
-        $form->validationResult();
+        $form->validate();
         $gridfieldOutput = $gridField->FieldHolder();
         $this->assertStringContainsString('<p class="message ' . ValidationResult::TYPE_ERROR . '">error</p>', $gridfieldOutput);
 
@@ -647,7 +647,7 @@ public function testValidationMessageInOutput()
 
         // A form that passes validation should not display a validation error in the FieldHolder output.
         $form->setValidator(new RequiredFields());
-        $form->validationResult();
+        $form->validate();
         $gridfieldOutput = $gridField->FieldHolder();
         $this->assertStringNotContainsString('<p class="message ' . ValidationResult::TYPE_ERROR . '">', $gridfieldOutput);
     }
diff --git a/tests/php/Forms/OptionsetFieldTest.php b/tests/php/Forms/OptionsetFieldTest.php
index 34142ec2973..e49b2020712 100644
--- a/tests/php/Forms/OptionsetFieldTest.php
+++ b/tests/php/Forms/OptionsetFieldTest.php
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ public function testValidation()
         $this->assertTrue($field->validate($validator));
 
         // ... but should not pass "RequiredFields" validation
-        $this->assertFalse($form->validationResult()->isValid());
+        $this->assertFalse($form->validate()->isValid());
 
         //disabled items shouldn't validate
         $field->setDisabledItems(['Five']);
diff --git a/tests/php/Forms/ValidatorTest.php b/tests/php/Forms/ValidatorTest.php
index 941094b438f..56659a07797 100644
--- a/tests/php/Forms/ValidatorTest.php
+++ b/tests/php/Forms/ValidatorTest.php
@@ -45,13 +45,13 @@ public function testRemoveValidation()
         $form->setValidator($validator); // Setup validator now that we've got our form.
         $form->loadDataFrom($data); // Put data into the form so the validator can pull it back out again.
 
-        $result = $form->validationResult();
+        $result = $form->validate();
         $this->assertFalse($result->isValid());
         $this->assertCount(1, $result->getMessages());
 
         // Make sure it doesn't fail after removing validation AND has no errors (since calling validate should reset errors).
         $validator->removeValidation();
-        $result = $form->validationResult();
+        $result = $form->validate();
         $this->assertTrue($result->isValid());
         $this->assertEmpty($result->getMessages());
     }