Improve error message for unknown fields in semantic_model config

core/dbt/contracts/graph/unparsed.py

@@ -551,6 +551,19 @@ class UnparsedSemanticModelConfig(dbtClassMixin):
     group: Optional[str] = None
     config: Optional[UnparsedSemanticResourceConfig] = None
 
+    @classmethod
+    @override
+    def validate(cls, data: Any) -> None:
+        if isinstance(data, dict):
+            allowed = set(cls.__dataclass_fields__.keys())
+            extra = set(data.keys()) - allowed
+            if extra:
+                raise ValidationError(
+                    f"Unknown field(s) in semantic_model config: {', '.join(sorted(extra))}. "
+                    f"Valid fields are: {', '.join(sorted(allowed))}."
+                )
+        super().validate(data)
+
 
 @dataclass
 class UnparsedModelUpdate(UnparsedNodeUpdate):
@@ -570,6 +583,18 @@ class UnparsedModelUpdate(UnparsedNodeUpdate):
     metrics: Optional[List[UnparsedMetricV2]] = None
     derived_semantics: Optional[UnparsedDerivedSemantics] = None
 
+    @classmethod
+    @override
+    def validate(cls, data: Any) -> None:
+        # Validate the semantic_model sub-object before the full JSON Schema runs so
+        # that unknown fields produce a clear error instead of the opaque JSON Schema
+        # message "is not valid under any of the given schemas".
+        if isinstance(data, dict):
+            sm = data.get("semantic_model")
+            if isinstance(sm, dict):
+                UnparsedSemanticModelConfig.validate(sm)
+        super().validate(data)
+
     def __post_init__(self) -> None:
         if self.latest_version:
             version_values = [version.v for version in self.versions]

tests/unit/contracts/graph/test_unparsed.py

@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
     UnparsedNode,
     UnparsedNodeUpdate,
     UnparsedRunHook,
+    UnparsedSemanticModelConfig,
     UnparsedSourceDefinition,
     UnparsedSourceTableDefinition,
     UnparsedVersion,
@@ -807,6 +808,31 @@ def test_bad_test_type(self):
         self.assert_fails_validation(dct)
 
 
+class TestUnparsedSemanticModelConfig(ContractTestCase):
+    ContractType = UnparsedSemanticModelConfig
+
+    def test_valid_config_passes(self):
+        self.ContractType.validate({"name": "purchases", "enabled": True})
+
+    def test_extra_field_gives_clear_error(self):
+        self.assert_fails_validation_with_message(
+            {"enabled": True, "name": "purchases", "description": "my semantic model"},
+            "Unknown field(s) in semantic_model config: description",
+        )
+
+    def test_extra_field_error_lists_valid_fields(self):
+        self.assert_fails_validation_with_message(
+            {"enabled": True, "unexpected_key": "value"},
+            "Valid fields are:",
+        )
+
+    def test_multiple_extra_fields_all_listed(self):
+        self.assert_fails_validation_with_message(
+            {"enabled": True, "description": "oops", "label": "also wrong"},
+            "Unknown field(s) in semantic_model config: description, label",
+        )
+
+
 class TestUnparsedExposure(ContractTestCase):
     ContractType = UnparsedExposure
 

tests/unit/utils/__init__.py

@@ -172,6 +172,20 @@ def assert_fails_validation(self, dct, cls=None):
             cls.validate(dct)
             cls.from_dict(dct)
 
+    def assert_fails_validation_with_message(self, dct, expected_message, cls=None):
+        """Assert that validation fails and the error message contains expected_message.
+
+        Use this instead of assert_fails_validation when you want to verify that
+        the user-facing error is actionable (e.g. names the offending field).
+        """
+        if cls is None:
+            cls = self.ContractType
+
+        with self.assertRaises(ValidationError) as ctx:
+            cls.validate(dct)
+            cls.from_dict(dct)
+        self.assertIn(expected_message, str(ctx.exception))
+
 
 def compare_dicts(dict1, dict2):
     first_set = set(dict1.keys())