1. the combining power of an element, especially as measured by the number of hydrogen atoms it can displace or combine with
Usage: chemistry
2. the number of arguments that a verb can take
Usage: linguistics

Examples

• Carbon has a valency of four, allowing it to form four bonds.
• The valency of oxygen is typically two in most compounds.
• Students learned about valency when studying chemical bonding.
• In linguistics, the valency of a verb determines its argument structure.
• The verb ‘give’ has a valency of three: giver, thing given, and recipient.
• Understanding valency helps predict how elements will combine.
• The valency concept is fundamental to both chemistry and grammar.