valid
VA-lihd
Valid (adj) means Based on sound reasoning; well-founded and hard to argue against. Example: “She raised a valid concern about the budget.”
adj
1
Based on sound reasoning; well-founded and hard to argue against.
"She raised a valid concern about the budget."
"That's a valid point — we should look into it."
"His reason for leaving early was perfectly valid, so nobody complained."
2
Legally or officially acceptable; meeting the required conditions.
"Your passport is still valid for another two years."
"You need a valid ticket to board the train."
"This voucher is no longer valid, because it expired last month."
How to use valid
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCorrect, sound, or officially acceptable — whether that's an argument, a ticket, or an ID.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
valid reason
valid passport
still valid
no longer valid
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more valid
- Superlative
- most valid
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She raised a _____ concern about the budget.
Etymology
From Latin validus, "strong", from valere, "to be strong or worth something".
Synonyms
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sound
cogent
well-founded
justifiable
defensible
lawful
acceptable
allowable
legit
legitimate
leveful
licit
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for valid
See all rhymes for valid →Frequently asked questions
What does “valid” mean?
The word “valid” means based on sound reasoning; well-founded and hard to argue against. In plain terms, correct, sound, or officially acceptable — whether that's an argument, a ticket, or an ID.
How do you pronounce “valid”?
“Valid” is pronounced VA-lihd (/ˈvælɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “valid” in a sentence?
Here is “valid” used in a sentence: “She raised a valid concern about the budget.”
What is another word for “valid”?
Words with a similar meaning to “valid” include acceptable, allowable, legit, legitimate, leveful and licit.
What is the opposite of “valid”?
The opposite of “valid” — its antonyms — are invalid, nonvalid, disallowed, illegitimate and illicit.
What part of speech is “valid”?
“Valid” is an adjective.
Where does the word “valid” come from?
The word “valid” comes from Latin. From Latin validus, "strong", from valere, "to be strong or worth something".
Is “valid” a common word?
“Valid” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between valid and legitimate?
Valid means meeting the required conditions or being based on sound reasoning, as in "a valid passport" or "a valid argument." Legitimate means conforming to the law or to accepted standards, and often carries a sense of rightful authority, as in "a legitimate claim." A document is usually described as valid, while a claim to power or ownership is described as legitimate.
What is the difference between a valid argument and a sound argument?
In formal logic, an argument is valid when the conclusion follows logically from the premises, even if those premises happen to be false. A sound argument is one that is valid and also has true premises. So every sound argument is valid, but a valid argument is not necessarily sound.
Is the opposite of valid unvalid or invalid?
The correct negative form is invalid, as in "an invalid ticket" or "an invalid argument." Unvalid is not standard English. Note that the adjective invalid (not acceptable) is spelled the same as the noun invalid (a person weakened by illness) but is a different use of the word.
What are common collocations with valid?
Valid frequently pairs with point, reason, argument, and concern in the reasoning sense: "she raised a valid point." In the official sense it pairs with passport, ticket, licence, and contract: "the visa is valid for six months." Saying something "remains valid" or is "no longer valid" is also very common.
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