valid

[val-id]

adjective

1. sound; just; well-founded.

   a valid reason.

2. producing the desired result; effective.

   a valid antidote for gloom.

3. having force, weight, or cogency; authoritative.

   Synonyms: cogent, substantial

4. legally sound, effective, or binding; having legal force.

   a valid contract.

5. Logic.,  (of an argument) so constructed that if the premises are jointly asserted, the conclusion cannot be denied without contradiction.

   Synonyms: convincing, logical

6. Archaic.,  robust; well; healthy.

valid

/ ˈvælɪd, vəˈlɪdɪtɪ /

adjective

1. having some foundation; based on truth

2. legally acceptable

   a valid licence

3. 1. having legal force; effective

   2. having legal authority; binding

4. having some force or cogency

   a valid point in a debate

5. 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

6. archaic,  healthy or strong

Other Word Forms

• validity noun
• validly adverb
• validness noun
• nonvalid adjective
• nonvalidly adverb
• nonvalidness noun
• prevalid adjective
• prevalidly adverb
• quasi-valid adjective
• quasi-validly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of valid¹

First recorded in 1565–75; from Latin validus “strong,” from val(ēre) “to be strong” + -idus -id ⁴; prevail ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of valid¹

C16: from Latin validus robust, from valēre to be strong

Example Sentences

"It is a valid step toward preserving the sacredness of the Eucharist and ensuring that only properly prepared wine is used for Mass," one Catholic told BBC.

Read more on BBC

Etoria held a valid Jamaican passport and the country had not said they would refuse his return, despite the US administration's claims that the deportees' home countries would not take them back.

Read more on Barron's

“Heirs are those who would have the legal right to inherit the decedent’s assets in the absence of a valid will,” he adds.

Read more on MarketWatch

Clark said she had “great respect” for the Lynx star and that Collier “made a lot of valid points.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

True, my parents were in the U.S. legally, as young doctors from India with valid visas, and in the mid-1960s, they became naturalized citizens.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• accurate 
• authentic 
• binding 
• compelling 
• conclusive 
• credible 
• good 
• lawful 
• legal 
• legitimate 
• logical 
• original 
• persuasive 
• solid 
• true 
• well-founded