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B2 noun #1,800 le plus courant 13 min de lecture

valid

Top 1,800

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces valid en 30 secondes

Explication valid in your Level:

When you are learning English at the A1 level, the word valid is a very helpful word to know, especially when you are traveling or buying things. Valid simply means that something is okay to use right now. It means that the rules say yes, you can use this item. For example, think about a bus ticket. When you buy a bus ticket, you can use it to ride the bus. Because you can use it, we say the ticket is valid. If you try to use an old ticket from last year, the bus driver will say no. That old ticket is not valid anymore. You also hear this word when you use a passport to travel to a different country. The police at the airport will look at your passport. They want to see if it is a valid passport. If it is valid, you can go into the country and have a nice holiday. If it is not valid, you must go home. Another time you use this word is with coupons at the supermarket. A coupon gives you a cheaper price for food. But the coupon has a date on it. If today is before that date, the coupon is valid, and you save money. If today is after that date, the coupon is not valid, and you pay the full price. So, valid means 'yes, it works' or 'yes, it is accepted'. It is a very important word for tickets, cards, and passports. Practice saying 'My ticket is valid' or 'Is this coupon valid?' when you go to the store or travel on a train. It will help people understand that you want to follow the rules and use things correctly.

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At the A2 level, you can understand that the word valid is used to describe official things that are acceptable and not too old to use. When something is valid, it means it meets the necessary conditions to be accepted by a person in charge, like a ticket inspector or a shop assistant. A very common example is an identity card or a driver's license. These cards always have an expiration date printed on them. If the current date is before the expiration date, your card is valid. This means you can legally use it to prove who you are or to drive a car. If the date has passed, the card is expired, which means it is no longer valid. You will also see the word valid when you use passwords on your computer or phone. If you type the correct password, the computer accepts it because it is a valid password. If you make a mistake and type the wrong letters, the computer will say 'invalid password' and you cannot log in. We also use valid to talk about reasons or excuses. Imagine you are late for your English class. If you tell the teacher 'I am late because the train broke down', the teacher will probably say 'That is a valid reason'. It means your excuse is good, true, and acceptable. But if you say 'I am late because I wanted to sleep more', the teacher will not be happy, because that is not a valid reason to miss class. Understanding valid helps you explain why you are doing something and helps you make sure your official documents are ready to use when you need them.

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When you reach the B1 level, your understanding of the word valid expands beyond just tickets and passports to include ideas, arguments, and official rules. At this stage, you know that valid means something is legally or officially acceptable, or that an idea is based on truth and good reasoning. In official contexts, a document is valid if it has been authorized by the correct organization and follows all the legal requirements. For instance, a contract between two companies is only valid if both managers have signed it. Without the signatures, the paper has no legal power; it is not valid. Similarly, a visa is a stamp in your passport that makes it valid for you to stay in a foreign country for a specific amount of time, like three months or a year. Beyond paperwork, valid is frequently used in conversations to describe thoughts and opinions. If you are having a debate with a friend about which movie is better, and your friend gives a very good, logical reason for their choice, you might say, 'That is a valid point.' This means you understand their logic and agree that their reasoning makes sense, even if you still prefer the other movie. A valid argument is one that is built on facts and clear thinking, rather than just emotions or guesses. Furthermore, in the world of customer service, a guarantee or warranty is valid if it still covers the repair of a broken product. If you drop your phone and the screen breaks, you will hope your warranty is still valid so the company will fix it for free. Therefore, valid is a crucial word for navigating both bureaucratic systems and intellectual discussions.

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At the B2 level, you are expected to use the word valid with precision in a variety of complex contexts, recognizing its dual application in legal frameworks and logical discourse. Something is described as valid if it is legally binding, officially recognized, or logically sound and defensible. In legal and administrative terminology, validity is paramount. A document, such as a last will and testament, a lease agreement, or a digital certificate, is only valid if it strictly adheres to procedural requirements, such as being witnessed, notarized, or cryptographically secured. If any of these stringent conditions are not met, the document may be deemed null and void, lacking any valid legal standing. This concept is crucial for professionals handling compliance, human resources, or international travel, where possessing valid credentials is non-negotiable. Transitioning to the realm of intellectual and interpersonal communication, valid takes on the meaning of being well-grounded, justifiable, and reasonable. When evaluating an essay, a scientific hypothesis, or a colleague's proposal, you must determine if their conclusions are valid. A valid conclusion is one that logically follows from verifiable premises and robust evidence. It is not merely an opinion; it is a rationally defensible position. Moreover, in the context of emotional intelligence and conflict resolution, acknowledging the validity of someone's feelings is a sophisticated communication strategy. Saying 'Your frustration is completely valid' demonstrates empathy and validates their emotional response to a difficult situation, without necessarily agreeing with their proposed solution. Mastering the nuances of valid at this level allows you to articulate complex legal statuses, critically analyze the soundness of arguments, and navigate sensitive interpersonal dynamics with tact and linguistic accuracy.

At the C1 advanced level, your comprehension of the term valid must encompass its sophisticated applications across jurisprudence, formal logic, scientific methodology, and nuanced social interactions. Validity, in these advanced contexts, implies a rigorous adherence to established criteria, ensuring that a process, document, or argument can withstand intense scrutiny. In the sphere of formal logic and philosophy, a valid argument is strictly defined by its structural integrity: it is an argument in which the truth of the premises absolutely guarantees the truth of the conclusion. This structural validity is distinct from soundness, which additionally requires the premises to be empirically true. In scientific research and statistics, validity refers to the degree to which an instrument or experiment accurately measures what it is intended to measure. A study lacks internal validity if confounding variables skew the results, rendering the researchers' conclusions scientifically invalid and unsuitable for publication. In legal and bureaucratic environments, validity is the bedrock of enforceability. A statute, a patent, or a binding resolution maintains its valid status only as long as it remains unrepealed and continues to comply with constitutional or international law. Furthermore, in contemporary socio-political discourse, the concept of validating identities, experiences, and historical narratives has become increasingly prominent. To recognize a marginalized group's grievances as valid is to grant them legitimacy and acknowledge their rightful place in the broader societal conversation. Therefore, at the C1 level, using the word valid effectively requires an acute awareness of whether you are invoking structural logic, methodological accuracy, legal enforceability, or socio-cultural legitimacy, allowing for highly precise and authoritative communication in professional and academic settings.

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At the C2 mastery level, the concept of validity is understood as a foundational pillar that underpins the epistemological, legal, and structural integrity of complex systems. The term valid operates at the critical intersection of jurisprudence, formal logic, psychometrics, and bureaucratic compliance, demanding an exceptionally nuanced application. In advanced psychometrics and research design, construct validity, predictive validity, and ecological validity are paramount; a psychometric assessment is only deemed valid if it can be unequivocally demonstrated that it accurately operationalizes the theoretical construct it purports to measure, free from systemic bias or methodological artifacts. In the intricate domain of international law and constitutional jurisprudence, the validity of a treaty or a legislative act is often the subject of intense appellate litigation. A legal instrument's validity may be contingent upon complex doctrines of severability, jurisdictional authority, and procedural due process; an act may be found partially valid while other clauses are struck down as ultra vires. Furthermore, in the realm of philosophical logic and dialectics, the distinction between a merely valid deductive inference and a demonstrably sound argument is a critical analytical tool used to deconstruct fallacious reasoning in high-level academic discourse. Beyond these technical applications, the rhetoric of validity is heavily utilized in critical theory and sociology to interrogate power dynamics, specifically regarding whose knowledge, experiences, and cultural norms are officially recognized as valid by hegemonic institutions. Mastery of the word valid at the C2 level therefore requires not only flawless syntactic execution but also a profound conceptual understanding of how validity acts as the ultimate gatekeeper of truth, legality, and acceptability across the highest echelons of human intellectual and administrative endeavor.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

valid en 30 secondes

Legally acceptable and usable.
Not expired or out of date.
Logically sound and reasonable.
Officially recognized by authority.

Understanding the concept of validity is absolutely essential for anyone navigating the complexities of modern life, as the term valid permeates countless aspects of our daily routines, legal obligations, and intellectual discussions. When we state that something is valid, we are fundamentally asserting that it meets a specific set of rigorous criteria that render it acceptable, functional, or logically sound within a given framework. For instance, in the realm of official documentation and legal bureaucracy, a valid passport, a valid driver's license, or a valid ticket is one that has been legitimately issued by an authorized governing body, has not yet reached its expiration date, and contains no fraudulent alterations.

You cannot board the international flight unless you present a valid passport at the departure gate.

This legal or official validity is what grants individuals the permission to travel across international borders, operate motor vehicles on public roads, or gain entry to exclusive events and transportation services. Without this form of validity, society's administrative systems would completely break down, leading to chaos and unauthorized access.

Legal Validity: The state of being legally binding or acceptable, often dependent on dates, signatures, and official stamps.

Furthermore, the concept extends deeply into the world of commerce and consumer rights, where a valid warranty, a valid coupon, or a valid promotional code dictates whether a customer is entitled to a repair, a discount, or a special offer. If a coupon is no longer valid, it means the promotional period has ended, and the retailer is under no obligation to honor the discount.

The discount code you entered is no longer valid for this particular purchase.

Beyond these tangible, document-based examples, the word valid takes on a profoundly important role in the spheres of logic, debate, and interpersonal communication. When someone presents a valid argument, they are offering a perspective that is logically sound, well-reasoned, and supported by verifiable evidence or solid premises.

Logical Validity: An argument whose conclusion logically follows from its premises, making it impossible for the premises to be true and the conclusion false.

In a formal logical context, an argument is considered valid if it is impossible for its premises to be true while its conclusion is false. This intellectual validity is the cornerstone of scientific inquiry, philosophical debate, and effective problem-solving.

The scientist presented a valid theory that completely changed our understanding of the phenomenon.

Even in everyday conversations, acknowledging that someone has a valid point or a valid concern is a crucial tool for demonstrating empathy, respect, and active listening. It validates their feelings and experiences, indicating that their emotional response or perspective is completely understandable and justified given the circumstances.

Her concerns about the safety of the new equipment are entirely valid.

Therefore, mastering the multifaceted applications of the word valid not only ensures that you can successfully manage your official documents and legal responsibilities but also empowers you to engage in more meaningful, rational, and respectful dialogues with others.

Emotional Validity: The recognition that a person's feelings or reactions are reasonable and understandable in a specific context.

The sheer versatility of this word makes it an indispensable part of a B2-level English speaker's vocabulary arsenal, allowing for precise and nuanced expression across a wide spectrum of contexts, from the highly formal atmosphere of a courtroom to the casual environment of a friendly debate.

The judge ruled that the contract was no longer valid due to a breach of terms.

Learning how to correctly and naturally use the word valid in various sentence structures is a critical step in achieving fluency and precision in the English language. Because valid is primarily an adjective, it is most commonly used to modify nouns, directly preceding the noun it describes or following a linking verb such as 'to be', 'to seem', or 'to remain'. One of the most frequent syntactic patterns involves placing valid directly before a noun that represents a document, a reason, or an argument.

You must provide a valid reason for your absence from the mandatory meeting.

In this attributive position, the word valid instantly clarifies the status or quality of the noun, leaving no ambiguity about its acceptability.

Attributive Adjective: When 'valid' is placed directly before the noun it modifies, such as 'valid passport' or 'valid excuse'.

Alternatively, valid is frequently used in a predicative position, meaning it comes after a linking verb to describe the subject of the sentence. This structure is particularly common when discussing the current status of tickets, contracts, or offers.

I am sorry, but this train ticket is not valid for travel during peak hours.

To add nuance and precision to your statements, you can modify the adjective valid with various adverbs. For example, if you want to emphasize that an argument is completely sound without any flaws, you might use the phrase 'perfectly valid'.

Choosing to take a gap year before university is a perfectly valid career choice.

If you need to specify the domain in which something is acceptable, you can use adverbs like 'legally', 'scientifically', or 'statistically'.

Adverbial Modification: Using adverbs like 'legally', 'perfectly', or 'equally' before 'valid' to specify the type or degree of validity.

The digital signature is legally valid in this jurisdiction.

In negative constructions, you can either use 'not valid' or the antonym 'invalid'. While both are grammatically correct, 'invalid' often sounds more formal and decisive, especially in technical or legal contexts. Furthermore, the concept of validity can be extended into noun and verb forms, though 'valid' itself remains an adjective. The noun form is 'validity', which refers to the state of being valid, and the verb form is 'validate', which means to make something valid or to confirm its validity.

Word Family Usage: Understanding how to transition between 'valid' (adjective), 'validity' (noun), and 'validate' (verb) enriches your expressive capabilities.

We need to check the validity of these claims before publishing the article.

By mastering these various structures and collocations, you will be able to articulate complex ideas regarding acceptability, legality, and logical soundness with the confidence and accuracy expected of an advanced English speaker.

The word valid is incredibly ubiquitous, appearing in a vast array of contexts ranging from mundane daily transactions to highly specialized professional environments. One of the most common places you will encounter this word is in the context of travel and transportation. Airports, train stations, and bus terminals are environments where the concept of validity is strictly enforced.

Passengers must hold a valid boarding pass to proceed through the security checkpoint.

In these settings, personnel are constantly checking whether tickets, visas, and identification documents are valid, meaning they are authentic, appropriate for the specific journey, and have not expired.

Travel Context: Used extensively by border control, ticketing agents, and security personnel to verify documentation.

Another major domain where valid is frequently used is the legal and administrative sector. Lawyers, judges, and civil servants rely heavily on this term to determine the enforceability of contracts, the legitimacy of claims, and the status of licenses.

The will was declared not valid because it lacked the required signatures of two independent witnesses.

In the academic and scientific communities, valid takes on a slightly different but equally crucial meaning. Researchers, professors, and students use the word to evaluate the soundness of methodologies, the reliability of data, and the logical consistency of arguments.

Academic Context: Refers to the logical soundness, statistical reliability, and methodological rigor of research and arguments.

The results of the experiment are not considered valid due to a significant flaw in the testing methodology.

Furthermore, you will frequently hear valid in customer service interactions and retail environments. When dealing with returns, warranties, or promotional offers, both customers and employees must establish whether the conditions for a transaction are currently valid.

Your warranty is still valid, so we will repair the laptop free of charge.

Finally, in everyday social interactions and interpersonal communication, valid is a powerful tool for expressing empathy and acknowledging someone else's perspective. When friends or colleagues discuss their problems, fears, or opinions, affirming that their feelings are valid helps build trust and mutual understanding.

Social Context: Used to validate emotions, opinions, and personal experiences during conversations and debates.

It is perfectly valid to feel anxious before giving a major public presentation.

Because it bridges the gap between strict bureaucratic rules and nuanced emotional intelligence, valid is a word you will encounter across almost every facet of English-speaking society.

Even advanced learners of English occasionally stumble when using the word valid, primarily because its specific legal and logical connotations can be easily confused with broader concepts like truth, availability, or general goodness. One of the most prevalent mistakes is using valid as a direct synonym for 'true' or 'correct' in situations where logic or rules are not the primary focus.

Incorrect: It is a valid fact that the earth revolves around the sun.

In the example above, 'true' or 'established' would be much more appropriate. Valid refers to the soundness of the reasoning or the official acceptability of a document, not merely whether a standalone fact is factually accurate.

Valid vs. True: A statement can be true, but an argument or document is valid. Do not use valid simply to mean 'factually correct'.

Another common error occurs when learners confuse valid with 'available' or 'working', particularly when discussing technology or resources.

Incorrect: The printer is not valid right now because it is out of paper.

Furthermore, learners sometimes mistakenly apply the adjective valid to describe people, which sounds highly unnatural in English. You can have a valid passport, or make a valid point, but a person themselves cannot be described as valid in standard English usage.

Applying to People: Never say 'He is a valid person'. Instead, say 'He is a legitimate candidate' or 'He has valid credentials'.

Incorrect: She is a very valid doctor with many years of experience.

Additionally, there is often confusion regarding the antonyms of valid, specifically the difference between 'invalid' and 'expired'. While an expired document is indeed invalid, a document can be invalid for many other reasons besides expiration, such as being forged, damaged, or issued incorrectly.

The forged signature made the entire contract completely invalid from the very beginning.

Finally, a subtle grammatical mistake involves preposition usage. When specifying the duration or condition of validity, the correct preposition is usually 'for' (valid for three months) or 'in' (valid in Europe). Using 'at' or 'on' in these contexts is generally incorrect.

Preposition Errors: Remember to use 'valid for' a period of time or a specific purpose, and 'valid in' a specific location.

This international driving permit is valid in over one hundred and fifty countries worldwide.

By carefully avoiding these common pitfalls, you can ensure that your use of the word valid is always accurate, natural, and contextually appropriate.

Expanding your vocabulary involves not just learning a single word, but understanding its relationship to a network of similar terms, known as synonyms. While valid is an excellent and versatile word, knowing when to use its synonyms can add remarkable precision and variety to your English expression. One of the closest synonyms to valid, particularly in legal and official contexts, is 'legitimate'.

The government recognized the newly formed organization as a legitimate and valid political party.

Legitimate emphasizes that something is in accordance with the law or established rules, much like valid, but legitimate can also be applied to people (e.g., a legitimate heir), whereas valid cannot.

Legitimate: Conforming to the law or to rules; able to be defended with logic or justification. Broader than valid as it can apply to people and organizations.

When discussing arguments, reasoning, and intellectual debates, 'sound' is an excellent alternative to valid. In formal logic, a sound argument is not only valid (its conclusion follows from its premises) but also has premises that are actually true in the real world.

Her financial strategy was based on sound economic principles, making her conclusions highly valid.

Another highly useful synonym is 'acceptable', which is often used in less formal contexts where strict legal or logical rules are not the primary concern. If a reason for being late is acceptable, it means the authority figure has decided to tolerate it, which is practically synonymous with calling it a valid excuse.

Acceptable: Able to be agreed on; suitable. It implies a subjective judgment of tolerance rather than an objective legal status.

A digital copy of the receipt is an acceptable and valid proof of purchase for this return.

In the context of documents and physical items, 'authentic' and 'genuine' are related terms. While valid means the document is currently active and legally binding, authentic means it is not a fake or a forgery. An authentic passport that expired yesterday is no longer valid, highlighting the subtle but important difference between the two concepts.

The antique dealer confirmed the painting was authentic, but the appraisal certificate was no longer valid.

Finally, 'binding' is a highly specific synonym used almost exclusively in legal contexts, referring to an agreement or contract that obligates the parties to fulfill their promises. A binding contract is, by definition, a valid contract.

Binding: Involving an obligation that cannot be broken, typically used for legal agreements and contracts.

Once both parties sign the document, it becomes a legally binding and valid agreement.

Understanding these nuances allows you to choose the exact right word for your specific situation, elevating your English proficiency significantly.

How Formal Is It?

Niveau de difficulté

Grammaire à connaître

Adjective placement (attributive vs predicative)

Prepositions of time and place (valid for, valid in)

Negative prefixes (in-valid)

Linking verbs (be, seem, remain + valid)

Adverbial modification (perfectly valid, legally valid)

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Exemples par niveau

My bus ticket is valid for one hour.

The ticket works for one hour.

Used as an adjective after the verb 'is'.

Is this passport valid?

Is this passport okay to use?

Used in a simple question to ask about status.

The coupon is not valid today.

You cannot use the coupon today.

Used with 'not' to show it is unacceptable.

You need a valid card to open the door.

You need a working card to open the door.

Used directly before the noun 'card'.

This train ticket is valid for two people.

Two people can use this train ticket.

Followed by the preposition 'for'.

I have a valid reason to be late.

I have a good excuse for being late.

Used to describe a 'reason'.

Make sure your visa is valid.

Check that your visa is okay to use.

Used after the linking verb 'is'.

The password you typed is not valid.

The password is wrong.

Used to describe computer input.

You cannot drive without a valid license.

You need a legal license to drive.

Used in a negative sentence structure.

My library card is valid until next December.

I can use my library card until December.

Used with 'until' to show a time limit.

Please enter a valid email address to continue.

Type a real email address to go to the next step.

Commonly used in digital instructions.

That is a valid point, but I still disagree.

That is a good idea, but I don't agree.

Used to acknowledge an argument in a conversation.

The offer is only valid if you buy two items.

The discount works only if you buy two things.

Used with 'if' to show a condition.

He gave a valid excuse for missing the meeting.

He gave a good reason for not being at the meeting.

Collocates strongly with the noun 'excuse'.

Check the website to see if the code is still valid.

Look online to see if the code still works.

Used with 'still' to ask about current status.

Only valid tickets will be accepted at the entrance.

They will only take good tickets at the door.

Used as an attributive adjective modifying 'tickets'.

The contract is not valid unless both managers sign it.

The contract has no power without both signatures.

Used with 'unless' to establish a necessary condition.

She raised several valid concerns about the new project.

She had several good worries about the new project.

Collocates with 'concerns' in a professional context.

Your parking permit is no longer valid in this zone.

You cannot use your parking permit here anymore.

Used with 'no longer' to indicate expiration.

The scientist's theory is perfectly valid and supported by data.

The theory is completely correct and has proof.

Modified by the adverb 'perfectly'.

We need to ensure that all the data collected is valid.

We must make sure the information is correct and useful.

Used to describe the quality of research data.

A valid credit card is required to make a reservation.

You must have a working credit card to book a room.

Used in formal requirements and instructions.

His argument was valid, so we decided to change our plan.

His reasoning was good, so we changed our minds.

Used to describe logical reasoning.

The warranty is valid for two years from the date of purchase.

The guarantee lasts for two years after you buy it.

Followed by 'for' to indicate the duration of validity.

The judge ruled that the search warrant was not legally valid.

The judge said the police paper was not legal.

Modified by the adverb 'legally' for precision.

While I understand your frustration, it is not a valid reason to shout.

I know you are angry, but that is not a good excuse to yell.

Used to evaluate the appropriateness of behavior.

To be considered valid, the experiment must be easily replicable.

For the test to be accepted, others must be able to copy it.

Used in the passive infinitive form 'to be considered valid'.

The software checks if the user's input is a valid date format.

The program makes sure the date is typed correctly.

Used in technical contexts regarding data validation.

Her criticisms of the current educational system are entirely valid.

Her complaints about schools are completely justified.

Modified by 'entirely' to show complete agreement.

Without a valid will, the estate will be divided according to state law.

If there is no legal will, the government decides who gets the money.

Used in legal terminology regarding inheritance.

The committee concluded that the complaints against the manager were valid.

The group decided the complaints were true and serious.

Used as a predicative adjective describing 'complaints'.

You must possess a valid certificate of insurance to operate this machinery.

You need an official insurance paper to use this machine.

Used in formal occupational health and safety contexts.

The appellate court upheld the decision, confirming the statute remains valid.

The higher court agreed, saying the law is still in effect.

Used with the linking verb 'remains' in a legal context.

Critics questioned the ecological validity of the laboratory-based psychological study.

People doubted if the lab study applied to the real world.

Part of the compound noun phrase 'ecological validity'.

His deductive reasoning was flawless, resulting in a logically valid conclusion.

His logic was perfect, leading to a completely sound result.

Modified by 'logically' to specify the type of validity.

The diplomatic visa is only valid for the duration of the official assignment.

The special visa works only while the official job lasts.

Used to define strict temporal boundaries.

Acknowledging the validity of marginalized perspectives is crucial for inclusive policy-making.

Accepting that minority views are important is necessary for fair rules.

Used in the noun form 'validity' in a socio-political context.

The auditor discovered that several of the financial transactions lacked valid authorization.

The inspector found that some money transfers were not officially approved.

Used to describe the legitimacy of corporate actions.

To mount a valid defense, the legal team must secure expert testimony.

To have a strong legal case, the lawyers need experts to speak.

Used as an attributive adjective modifying 'defense'.

The philosophical debate centered on whether moral judgments can ever be objectively valid.

The argument was about whether ideas of right and wrong can be universally true.

Modified by 'objectively' to discuss universal truth.

The jurisprudential debate hinged on whether the precedent was still valid in light of recent constitutional amendments.

The legal argument depended on if the old rule still applied after the new laws.

Used in highly complex legal analysis.

In psychometrics, establishing construct validity is a prerequisite before deploying any standardized assessment tool.

In testing, proving the test measures the right thing is required before using it.

Part of the specialized term 'construct validity'.

The logician demonstrated that while the syllogism was structurally valid, its premises were empirically false.

The expert showed that the argument's format was right, but its facts were wrong.

Used to contrast structural validity with empirical truth.

The treaty's validity was challenged on the grounds that it was signed under extreme economic duress.

The agreement's legality was questioned because it was forced by financial pressure.

Used in the noun form to discuss international law.

The phenomenological approach asserts that subjective human experiences possess an inherent validity that empirical science often overlooks.

This philosophy says personal feelings have a truth that science often ignores.

Used to discuss philosophical epistemology.

The nullification of the contract rendered all subsequent subsidiary agreements legally invalid.

Canceling the main contract made all the smaller agreements illegal too.

Used in the antonym form 'invalid' in a complex legal sentence.

The algorithm employs cryptographic hashing to ensure the validity of every transaction on the blockchain ledger.

The computer program uses math to make sure every digital money transfer is real.

Used to describe data integrity in computer science.

Her critique dismantled the underlying assumptions of the theory, entirely undermining its theoretical validity.

Her review destroyed the basic ideas of the theory, making it completely useless.

Used with 'theoretical' to describe the soundness of an academic framework.

Synonymes

legitimate authentic logical sound authorized legal

Antonymes

invalid void expired

Collocations courantes

valid passport

valid reason

valid argument

valid ticket

valid point

perfectly valid

legally valid

valid contract

valid excuse

valid license

Phrases Courantes

hold a valid

remain valid

no longer valid

perfectly valid point

valid for travel

valid for a period

legally valid document

raise a valid concern

considered valid

check if valid

Souvent confondu avec

valid vs true

valid vs available

valid vs authentic

Expressions idiomatiques

"null and void"

"hold water"

"stand up in court"

"make a fair point"

"have a leg to stand on"

"ring true"

"pass muster"

"be up to scratch"

"on solid ground"

"bear scrutiny"

Facile à confondre

valid vs

Structures de phrases

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Comment l'utiliser

nuance

Implies a strict adherence to rules or logic, not just general goodness or truth.

formality

Appropriate for all registers, but highly frequent in formal, legal, and academic writing.

Erreurs courantes

Using 'valid' to describe a person (e.g., 'He is a valid man' instead of 'He is a legitimate candidate').
Confusing 'valid' with 'true' when stating simple facts (e.g., 'It is a valid fact that water boils at 100 degrees').
Using the wrong preposition, such as 'valid at three months' instead of 'valid for three months'.
Pronouncing the antonym 'invalid' with the stress on the first syllable (IN-vuh-lid) when it should be on the second (in-VAL-id).
Assuming 'invalid' only means 'expired', forgetting that fake or unsigned documents are also invalid.

Astuces

Use with Linking Verbs

Remember that 'valid' is an adjective. It frequently follows linking verbs like 'is', 'remains', or 'seems'. For example, 'The offer remains valid until Friday.'

Collocation: Valid Point

When you want to agree with someone's argument in a discussion, use the phrase 'You make a valid point.' It sounds much more advanced than just saying 'You are right.'

Valid For vs Valid In

Use 'valid for' when talking about time (valid for 6 months) or purpose (valid for travel). Use 'valid in' when talking about places (valid in the UK).

Stress the First Syllable

When pronouncing 'valid', make sure to put the stress on the first syllable: VAL-id. The 'a' sounds like the 'a' in 'cat'.

Academic Writing

In academic essays, use 'valid' to evaluate sources and arguments. Saying 'The author presents a valid argument' shows critical thinking skills.

Check Your Documents

Always use the word 'valid' when checking travel documents. Ask the agent, 'Is my visa still valid?' to ensure you use the correct terminology.

Valid vs True

Keep in mind the difference between truth and validity. Use 'true' for facts (The sky is blue) and 'valid' for logic and rules (Your reasoning is valid).

Contracts and Agreements

In business English, 'valid' is essential. Always ensure contracts are described as 'legally valid' to emphasize their enforceability.

Validating Feelings

Use 'valid' to show emotional intelligence. Telling a friend 'Your feelings are valid' is a great way to support them during hard times.

Data Entry

In IT and software, 'valid' is used for data. If a system rejects your password, it's because it's not a 'valid' input. Look out for this in error messages.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

VALID: Very Acceptable, Legal, In Date.

Origine du mot

Late 16th century

Contexte culturel

In academic settings, attacking the 'validity' of an opponent's argument is standard practice, focusing on their logic rather than their character.

In international travel, 'validity' often implies a passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of entry.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Amorces de conversation

"Have you ever been stopped at an airport because your passport wasn't valid?"

"What do you think makes an excuse for being late truly valid?"

"Can you think of a time when someone made a valid point that completely changed your mind?"

"Why is it important for scientific experiments to be considered valid?"

"How do you check if a website's security certificate is valid?"

Sujets d'écriture

Describe a time when you had to argue a valid point against someone who disagreed with you.

Write about the process of renewing an important document to ensure it remains valid.

Reflect on a situation where your feelings were validated by a friend. Why was that important?

Explain the difference between a valid excuse and a poor excuse in a professional setting.

Discuss why the validity of news sources is a major concern in the modern digital age.

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

No, in standard English, you cannot describe a person as valid. You cannot say 'He is a valid man'. Instead, you should describe their actions, credentials, or arguments. For example, you can say 'He has valid credentials' or 'He made a valid point'. Using valid for people sounds very unnatural to native speakers.

An expired document is one whose time limit has run out. An invalid document is one that is not acceptable, which could be because it is expired, but also because it is fake, damaged, or unsigned. All expired documents are invalid, but not all invalid documents are expired. For example, a forged passport is invalid, even if the date on it is in the future.

When talking about time or purpose, you should use 'valid for'. For example, 'The ticket is valid for three days' or 'This pass is valid for travel'. You use 'valid in' for locations, like 'valid in Europe'. You rarely use 'valid to' unless it is followed by an infinitive verb in a specific legal context, which is uncommon in everyday speech.

Yes, especially in formal logic. Validity refers to the structure of an argument, not the truth of its facts. However, in everyday conversation, people often use 'valid point' to mean a point that is both logically sound and factually true. But strictly speaking, a fact is 'true', while an argument or document is 'valid'.

The opposite of valid is 'invalid'. When used as an adjective meaning 'not valid', the stress is on the second syllable: in-VAL-id. Be careful, because there is also a noun 'invalid' meaning a sick or disabled person, and that is pronounced with the stress on the first syllable: IN-vuh-lid.

Yes, in modern psychology and everyday conversation, it is very common to describe feelings or emotions as valid. This means that the emotional reaction is understandable, reasonable, and justified given the circumstances. Saying 'Your anger is valid' is a powerful way to show empathy.

'Perfectly valid' is a strong collocation used to emphasize that there is absolutely nothing wrong with an argument, reason, or choice. It means it is 100% acceptable. For example, 'Deciding not to go to university is a perfectly valid life choice.'

Valid is used in all registers, from highly formal legal documents to casual conversations. While it is essential in formal contexts (like discussing contracts), it is also perfectly normal to use it informally, such as asking a bus driver, 'Is this ticket still valid?'

The noun form is 'validity'. It refers to the state or quality of being valid. For example, 'The lawyer questioned the validity of the contract.' There is also a verb form, 'validate', which means to check or prove the validity of something.

It is generally better to say 'a true fact' or 'an established fact'. Valid is better used for things that require reasoning, logic, or official approval, such as 'a valid argument', 'a valid reason', or 'a valid document'. Facts simply exist, so they are true rather than valid.

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Teste-toi 200 questions

writing

Write a sentence explaining why you need a valid passport to travel.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

Focus on the official and legal necessity of the document.