invalid
/ɪnˈvæ.lɪd/
adjective
  1. no longer valid
  2. having no cogency or legal force
    an invalid driver's license
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. More at Wordnik

Although non-valid and invalid have the same meaning semantically, I tend to interpret them with a subtle difference.

The difference is the same as that between words like "not useful" and "useless". Calling something "useless" seems to me like a more blatant/harsh way of negating its usefulness than calling something "not useful".

Similarly, I tend to interpret "non-valid" as simply negating the validity of the subject (less intense) and "invalid" as harshly specifying that something is invalid (more intense).

While there would be no book or rule stating this kind of a difference, I believe that our brain inadvertently picks up this kind of cognizance by reading text and observing the minute difference in ways these words are used.

It would be interesting to know if others also feel the same way.

Answer from satnam on Stack Exchange
Top answer
1 of 3
4

Although non-valid and invalid have the same meaning semantically, I tend to interpret them with a subtle difference.

The difference is the same as that between words like "not useful" and "useless". Calling something "useless" seems to me like a more blatant/harsh way of negating its usefulness than calling something "not useful".

Similarly, I tend to interpret "non-valid" as simply negating the validity of the subject (less intense) and "invalid" as harshly specifying that something is invalid (more intense).

While there would be no book or rule stating this kind of a difference, I believe that our brain inadvertently picks up this kind of cognizance by reading text and observing the minute difference in ways these words are used.

It would be interesting to know if others also feel the same way.

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2

This is an intriguing question. My experience is much like satnam's, only sort of the opposite. The two terms have such similar meanings that dictionaries often use one term to describe the other. There does seem to be a subtle difference in actual usage that I can't find formally documented, and it somewhat relates to a matter of degree. Where our experience differs is that I think of non-valid as the more "intense" term, to use the same adjective. Perhaps it's very situation-specific. Here's my crude attempt to characterize it.

"Invalid" seems to be used to refer to something that is not currently valid or that a reasonable person might mistake for valid, whereas "non-valid" seems to be used to refer to something that under no circumstances could ever be valid. Some examples:

  • An invalid license could be an expired license. It was previously valid and could be made valid again via renewal. A non-valid license could be a foreign license that can never be valid.
  • An invalid credit card might refer to one that used to be valid but has been cancelled or expired. A non-valid credit card might refer to a credit card that is not one of the brands the merchant accepts.
  • When a term for validity is applied to an assumption or argument, "invalid" seems to be reserved for incorrect ones a reasonable person might mistakenly make, while "non-valid", if it was used in that context, would cover cases more not valid.

    For example, in a serious discussion or debate, one person uses an assumption or argument that seems reasonable on the surface but can be demonstrated to be incorrect. That would typically be referred to as "invalid". Use of "non-valid" would more likely be applied to a more obviously bad assumption or argument where the person making it is expected to know better.

    Another example: "Why is John taller than Bob?" "Because Tuesday." People wouldn't be likely to talk about the "validity" of such a response because the argument is so far away from being valid that validity is irrelevant. But I suspect that if someone was to apply "invalid" or "non-valid" to it, the terms would elicit different reactions. "Invalid" would seem so misapplied that people would assume it was sarcasm, even though it is technically true. "Non-valid" would just sound odd, perhaps leading people to wonder if it was some kind of clinical observation rather than off-the-cuff commentary about the content.

So I am also curious to see other responses to the question.

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Merriam-Webster
merriam-webster.com › dictionary › invalid
INVALID Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
from earlier invalid "not having a sound basis in fact or reason, not valid," from Latin invalidus "weak"
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Merriam-Webster
merriam-webster.com › dictionary › nonvalid
NONVALID Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
: not valid : invalid · nonvalid arguments · a nonvalid license · nonvalidity · ˌnän-və-ˈli-də-tē · -va- noun · the nonvalidity of the allegations · Relevance · unreasonable · invalid · See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus ...
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Quora
quora.com › What-is-the-difference-between-valid-and-invalid
What is the difference between valid and invalid? - Quora
Answer (1 of 5): What is the difference between valid and invalid? A valid argument is one where the premises guarantee the conclusion. The truth of the premises or the conclusion is irrelevant to the validity of the argument. Example of a VALID argument: * ALL cats are rocks * ALL rocks are...
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Dictionary.com
dictionary.com › browse › invalid
INVALID Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
to remove from or classify as not ... active theater of operations because of injury or illness. ... not valid; not founded in truth, fact, or logic, and hence weak and indefensible; unsound; untenable....
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WordHippo
wordhippo.com › what-is › another-word-for › not_valid.html
What is another word for "not valid"?
Synonyms for not valid include invalid, void, inoperative, nonbinding, null, nugatory, bad, unacceptable, unenforceable and illegitimate. Find more similar words at wordhippo.com!
Find elsewhere
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Cambridge Dictionary
dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english › non-valid
NON-VALID | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
A document or computer file is non-valid if it does not meet a set of conditions, often official ones:
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Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
iep.utm.edu › val-snd
Validity and Soundness | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Hence, the study of which deductive argument forms are valid and which are invalid is often called “formal logic” or “symbolic logic.” · In short, a deductive argument must be evaluated in two ways. First, one must ask if the premises provide support for the conclusion by examing the form of the argument. If they do, then the argument is valid. Then, one must ask whether the premises are true or false in actuality. Only if an argument passes both these tests is it sound. However, if an argument does not pass these tests, its conclusion may still be true, despite that no support for its truth is given by the argument.
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Cambridge Dictionary
dictionary.cambridge.org › us › thesaurus › not-valid
NOT VALID - 25 Synonyms and Antonyms - Cambridge English
These are words and phrases related to not valid. Click on any word or phrase to go to its thesaurus page. invalid · void · null · nugatory · useless · forceless · ineffective · good-for-nothing · worthless · inoperative · dead letter ...
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Collins Dictionary
collinsdictionary.com › us › dictionary › english › invalid
INVALID definition in American English | Collins English Dictionary
See in-3, valid] ... to require (a member of the armed forces) to retire from active service through wounds or illness ▶ USAGE It is best to avoid using the term invalid when referring to people with chronic illnesses or disabilities ... (of an argument) having a conclusion that does not follow from the premises: it may be false when the premises are all true; not valid
Published   March 26, 2018
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Cambridge Dictionary
dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english › invalid
INVALID | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
INVALID definition: 1. An invalid document, ticket, law, etc. is not legally or officially acceptable: 2. An invalid…. Learn more.
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HKU Philosophy
philosophy.hku.hk › think › arg › valid1.php
[A03] Validity
Basically, we are defining a valid argument as an argument with no possible invalidating counterexamples. To sharpen your skills in evaluating arguments, it is therefore important that you are able to discover and construct such examples. Notice that a counterexample need not be real in the ...
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/disability › is it me or is being called an invalid as a disabled person super offensive
r/disability on Reddit: Is it me or is being called an invalid as a disabled person super offensive
March 3, 2023 - And give a whole sermon on how disabled people were called "in valids" in the Bible because that's how society viewed them in biblical times...... As people who's existence wasn't valid. Nope. Look up the actual Latin roots of words and the original Greek version of the Bible. They meant invalid, not "in valid".
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Collins Dictionary
collinsdictionary.com › dictionary › english › nonvalid
NONVALID definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary
not valid; invalid · You may also like · English Quiz · Confusables · Language Lover's · Blog · Translate · your text · Pronunciation · Playlists · Word of the day: 'haecceity' English · Grammar · Collins · Apps · Visible years: ...
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Encyclopedia Britannica
britannica.com › dictionary › invalid
Invalid Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary
The judge declared that the contract was invalid. [+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples · b : not based on truth or fact : not logical or correct
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Stanford University
web.stanford.edu › ~bobonich › terms.concepts › valid.sound.html
template.1
Short List of Definitions · Validity and Invalidity, Soundness and Unsoundness
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University of Hawaii
www2.hawaii.edu › ~pine › logicweb › Phil110 › Phil110 › validsup.htm
More Valid and Invalid Examples:
Therefore, Kanoe does not live on the island of Oahu. ... Anyone who lives in the city Honolulu, HI also lives on the island of Oahu. Kanoe lives in the city of Honolulu, HI. Therefore, Kanoe lives on the island of Oahu. ... All crows are black. Only crows are black. John is black. John is black. Therefore, John is a crow. Therefore, John is a crow. Remember the key to judging deductive arguments to be valid or invalid is not whether the premises are true or false.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/askphilosophy › valid vs invalid argument
r/askphilosophy on Reddit: Valid vs Invalid Argument
December 2, 2024 -

Around a month ago, I posted this question regarding an argument and why it is invalid. However, I got my midterm back today and I was shocked to see I got not one, but two questions wrong regarding valid and invalid arguments. Here are the arguments:

Argument 1:

  1. If apples are green, roses are red.

  2. Roses are not red.

C. Apples are not green.

Immediately, I thought to myself that this argument is extremely similar to the one I posted a month ago. However, this argument is valid according to my professor.

Argument 2:

  1. A necessary condition on Joe going to the party is that Jane goes to the party.

  2. Jane will go to the party.

C. Joe will go to the party.

This argument is invalid according to my professor. But how can that be? If Jane is a necessary condition for Joe going to the party and Jane is at the party, then why would Joe not go to the party?

So my question to you all is: am I just misunderstanding what it means for an argument to be valid or invalid?