What does "valid" mean?

1. (legally acceptable) officially acceptable and able to be used because it follows the rules. 2. (logical or reasonable) based on sensible reasons or facts that people can agree with. 3. (logical truth) in logic, an argument where the conclusion must be true if the starting ideas are true.

How do you use "valid"?

Often used with documents like passports, tickets, or contracts. Commonly describes points, arguments, reasons, or concerns.

valid

adj.

US //ˈvæɫɪd// UK //vˈælɪd// valid

1 legally acceptable (adj.)
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.

Example

You need a valid passport to travel to another country.

Example

The ticket inspector noted that the passenger's pass was no longer valid, as it had expired three days prior to the journey.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

Example

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

Example

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

Usage

Commonly describes points, arguments, reasons, or concerns.

Show 1 more senseShow fewer

3 logical truth (adj.)
C1 Advanced Technical Academic 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.

Example

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

Example

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.
- cogent
- fallacious

Origin

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”).