annulment

noun

an·​nul·​ment ə-ˈnəl-mənt How to pronounce annulment (audio)
1
: the act of annulling something : the state of being annulled
2
: a judicial or ecclesiastical pronouncement declaring a marriage invalid

Did you know?

Annulment usually applies to marriage. In some states an annulment may be carried out by a court ("judicial annulment"), but annulment is generally practiced by a church ("ecclesiastic annulment"), and principally the Roman Catholic Church, which traditionally hasn't permitted divorce. The usual acceptable reason for annulment is a "failure to consummate" the marriage by having children. Unlike a marriage that ends in divorce, an annulled marriage is considered never to have existed. Other things can be annulled as well, including a contract (if one party fails to comply with its terms) or an election (if it wasn't carried out properly).

Examples of annulment in a Sentence

an annulment of that hastily conceived marriage can't come too soon
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In a press release, the court said the annulment was based on Article 146(f) of the Constitution, emphasizing the need to ensure the correctness and legality of the electoral process. Sophie Tanno, CNN, 6 Dec. 2024 But an annulment would serve their legal and social objectives better than a divorce. Bryan Greene, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Nov. 2024 Her ex-husband also filed paperwork for an annulment on the grounds of fraud. Ilana Kaplan, Peoplemag, 23 July 2024 The point of modern annulment is to try to offer a path to healing and peace. Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 10 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for annulment 

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of annulment was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near annulment

Cite this Entry

“Annulment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/annulment. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Legal Definition

annulment

noun
an·​nul·​ment ə-ˈnəl-mənt How to pronounce annulment (audio)
1
: the act of annulling : the state of being annulled
2
: a declaration by a court that a marriage is invalid compare divorce

More from Merriam-Webster on annulment

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!