Valid
Good, solid, worth approving of.
- Origin: US slang documented in a 2014 campus collection, per Green’s
- On the Slang-o-matic wheel: Gen Alpha (born 2013 and later). That is who the translator files it under, not a claim that this generation coined it.
What it means
In standard English, valid means, in Cambridge Dictionary’s words, “based on truth or reason; able to be accepted,” as in a valid argument. As slang it has stretched into a general word of approval. Green’s Dictionary of Slang defines it as “used of individuals and objects, admirable.”
Green’s example comes from a college slang list that glosses it as “good, decent,” with “Joey’s a valid guy” and “This bagel’s valid.”
Where it comes from
Green’s marks the sense as American, and its one listed citation is from 2014: the spring 2014 campus slang list compiled by Connie Eble at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Green’s does not record when it reached younger children, and we have not found a dictionary that does.
Who says it now
The translator files valid under Gen Alpha by its own convention; the 2014 citation comes from college students, most of them Millennials. In our observation kids use it to approve of something, sometimes as a one-word reply: “Valid.”
Tone
Approving and low-key. It is cooler and calmer than fire or amazing, closer to “solid.” Said about feelings (“your feelings are valid”) it is supportive and sincere rather than slangy.
What adults hear, what kids mean
An adult may hear valid in its formal sense and think a kid is grading their argument. When a kid says “that sandwich is valid,” they simply mean it is good. When they reply “valid” to your point, they are agreeing.
How to use it
Valid comes after a verb (“that idea is valid,” “your outfit is valid”) and in our observation it also stands alone as a reply meaning “fair enough” or “good call.” Green’s examples apply it to people and things.
Two examples, written by us:
- Pancakes for dinner on a Friday? Valid.
- These tacos are valid; I would drive across town for them again.
How to answer it
If a kid says “valid” to something you said, they agree, so you can just carry on. If they call your cooking valid, take it as a real compliment, even if it sounds understated.
Same idea, other generations
The Slang-o-matic wheel files Valid under Gen Alpha for the idea of excellent. These are the words it files under the same idea, by generation. They are related, not always exact translations:
Related slang
- Rizz (Gen Alpha): Charm; the knack for attracting someone.
- Fire (Gen Z): Excellent, amazing.
- No cap (Gen Alpha): No lie, for real.
Try the slang translatorAll slang by generation
Sources
Meanings and dates on this page come from these dictionaries. Each quote is copied word for word from the linked page.
- Cambridge Dictionary
“based on truth or reason; able to be accepted”
- Green's Dictionary of Slang
“(US) used of individuals and objects, admirable.”
“2014 C. Eble UNC-CH Campus Sl. Spring 2014 16: VALID”
“good, decent: 'Joey's a valid guy.' 'This bagel's valid'.”