Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Valid

Val′id

,
Adj.
[F.
valide
, L.
validus
strong, from
valere
to be strong. See
Valiant
.]
1.
Strong; powerful; efficient.
[Obs.]
“Perhaps more valid arms . . . may serve to better us.”
Milton.
2.
Having sufficient strength or force; founded in truth; capable of being justified, defended, or supported; not weak or defective; sound; good; efficacious;
as, a
valid
argument; a
valid
objection
.
An answer that is open to no
valid
exception.
I. Taylor.
3.
(Law)
Having legal strength or force; executed with the proper formalities; incapable of being rightfully overthrown or set aside;
as, a
valid
deed; a
valid
covenant; a
valid
instrument of any kind; a
valid
claim or title; a
valid
marriage
.
Syn. – Prevalent; available; efficacious; just; good; weighty; sufficient; sound; well-grounded.

Webster 1828 Edition


Valid

VAL'ID

,
Adj.
[L. validus, from valeo, to be strong. The primary sense of the root is to strain or stretch.]
1.
Having sufficient strength or force; founded in truth; sound; just; good; that can be supported; not weak or defective; as a valid reason; a valid argument; a valid objection.
2.
Having legal strength or force; efficacious; executed with the proper formalities; that cannot be rightfully overthrown or set aside; supportable by law or right; as a valid deed; a valid covenant; a valid instrument of any kind; a valid claim or title; a valid marriage.
3.
Strong; powerful; in a literal sense; as valid arms. [Not in use.]

Definition 2024


valid

valid

See also: vàlid

English

Adjective

valid (comparative more valid, superlative most valid)

  1. Well grounded or justifiable, pertinent.
    • 2012 March-April, Jan Sapp, “Race Finished”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, page 164:
      Few concepts are as emotionally charged as that of race. The word conjures up a mixture of associations—culture, ethnicity, genetics, subjugation, exclusion and persecution. But is the tragic history of efforts to define groups of people by race really a matter of the misuse of science, the abuse of a valid biological concept?
    I will believe him as soon as he offers a valid answer.
  2. Acceptable, proper or correct.
    A valid format for the date is MM/DD/YY.
    Do not drive without a valid license.
  3. Related to the current topic, or presented within context, relevant.
  4. (logic) Of a formula or system: such that it evaluates to true regardless of the input values.
  5. (logic) Of an argument: whose conclusion is always true whenever its premises are true.
    An argument is valid if and only if the set consisting of both (1) all of its premises and (2) the contradictory of its conclusion is inconsistent.

Antonyms

Hyponyms

  • (in logic: argument whose conclusion is always true whenever its premises are all true): sound

Related terms

Translations


German

Etymology

From Latin validus.

Adjective

valid (not comparable)

  1. valid

Declension


Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From Latin validus

Adjective

valid (neuter singular valid, definite singular and plural valide)

  1. valid

References


Norwegian Nynorsk

Etymology

From Latin validus

Adjective

valid (neuter singular valid, definite singular and plural valide)

  1. valid

References