English Reference
adjective

valid

adj.
US /ˈvæɫɪd/ UK /vˈælɪd/ valid

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate Law

    officially acceptable and able to be used because it follows the rules.

    legally or officially binding or acceptable; meeting the necessary requirements for use.

    Simple

    You need a valid passport to travel to another country.

    In context

    The ticket inspector noted that the passenger's pass was no longer valid, as it had expired three days prior to the journey.

    Usage

    Often used with documents like passports, tickets, or contracts.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

    based on sensible reasons or facts that people can agree with.

    well-grounded or justifiable; based on truth or sound reasoning.

    Simple

    She raised some valid points during the meeting about the budget.

    In context

    While the theory is controversial, the researcher provided several valid arguments supported by recent statistical data.

    Usage

    Commonly describes points, arguments, reasons, or concerns.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced TechnicalAcademic Math

    in logic, an argument where the conclusion must be true if the starting ideas are true.

    relating to an argument whose form is such that if the premises are true, the conclusion must also be true.

    Simple

    The professor explained why the student's conclusion followed a valid logical path.

    In context

    In formal logic, a valid argument does not necessarily have true premises, but its structure ensures the conclusion follows from them.

    Teacher's tip

    In academic contexts, remind students that 'valid' refers to the structure of the logic, while 'true' refers to the facts themselves.

    fallacious

Usage valid votes · equally valid · longer valid

Less than 1% voted by mail, and every single Voter had to have a VALID Photo Identity Document.

The Guardian· 18 Aug 2026

Borrowed from Middle French valide (“healthy, sound, in good order”), from Latin validus, from valeō (“to be strong, to be healthy, to be worth”) + -idus, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁- (“be strong”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin ine-pro *h₂welh₁-
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated