valid

American  

[val-id] / ˈvæl ɪd /

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.

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valid British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of valid

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

Example Sentences

For a disclaimer to be valid, the person disclaiming an asset must not have benefited from it, say, by spending the dividends from a stock.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

In that sense, it is a valid input into the ultimate outcome that one should expect, depending upon the circumstances.

From Barron's • Mar. 28, 2026

Mid and East Antrim Council said that "any property being sold or rented must have a valid Energy Performance Certificate, which reflects insulation and energy efficiency".

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

But her lawyer, Stacy Tolchin, said the record showed that the order lacked supervisory approval and was never finalized, so there was no valid removal order to reinstate.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026

Dina has wanted to get rid of Molly for a while, and now she’s got a valid excuse.

From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline

Related Words

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