valid
Americanadjective
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sound; just; well-founded.
a valid reason.
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producing the desired result; effective.
a valid antidote for gloom.
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having force, weight, or cogency; authoritative.
- Synonyms:
- cogent, substantial
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legally sound, effective, or binding; having legal force.
a valid contract.
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Logic. (of an argument) so constructed that if the premises are jointly asserted, the conclusion cannot be denied without contradiction.
- Synonyms:
- convincing, logical
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Archaic. robust; well; healthy.
adjective
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having some foundation; based on truth
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legally acceptable
a valid licence
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having legal force; effective
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having legal authority; binding
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having some force or cogency
a valid point in a debate
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logic (of an inference or argument) having premises and conclusion so related that whenever the former are true the latter must also be true, esp ( formally valid ) when the inference is justified by the form of the premises and conclusion alone. Thus Tom is a bachelor; therefore Tom is unmarried is valid but not formally so, while today is hot and dry; therefore today is hot is formally valid Compare invalid 2
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archaic healthy or strong
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of valid
First recorded in 1565–75; from Latin validus “strong,” from val(ēre) “to be strong” + -idus -id 4; cf. prevail ( def. )
Explanation
A valid argument is one that is well-grounded in fact, law or logic. "Their argument for annulment was valid because they had never even met and their marriage was the result of a clerical error at town hall." Something is valid when it can be supported or backed-up, or if it is functional: “She figured her password was valid because she had just set it.” In a legal context, valid means that something is binding or actionable: “At the time of the accident his license was no longer valid, so they impounded his car.” The logical grounding of an argument can be valid: “That’s a valid point about Santa being too large to fit down a chimney.”
Vocabulary lists containing valid
Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)
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The Real Deal: Synonyms for "True"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Californians with a valid driver’s license or identification cards can enroll in the pilot program.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
Fear that Social Security benefits might be reduced is not, by itself, an empirical reason to claim benefits early, although it is certainly a valid theory.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026
Iran's top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has warned that any deal to end the war "only has meaning when its clauses are valid and being implemented".
From Barron's ● Jul. 17, 2026
Milei was reported by Argentine broadcaster TN as saying that it was "perfectly valid and right that the players should want to express themselves and do so".
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026
I made my peace with this nickname by telling myself that it was technically valid, at least in the original medical sense.
From "Ugly" by Robert Hoge
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
