nullify

verb

nul·​li·​fy ˈnə-lə-ˌfī 

nullified; nullifying

transitive verb

1

: to make null (see null entry 1 sense 1)

especially : to make legally null and void

nullify a law

2

: to make of no value or consequence (see consequence sense 3)

a promise later nullified

Did you know?

A legislature may nullify a ban, a law, or a tax by simply passing a new law. Election results can be nullified if a court finds the voting process was improper, and a court ruling can be nullified by a higher court. Even the Supreme Court itself may have its decisions nullified by new laws passed by the Congress—though not if a decision is based on the Constitution. In the years leading up to the American Civil War, Southern states claimed the right to nullify any federal law (such as antislavery laws) that they believed to be unconstitutional, leading to the Nullification Crisis of 1832. Annul is a close synonym of nullify (with the same root), as are abrogate and invalidate.

Synonyms

• abate
• abolish
• abrogate
• annul
• avoid
• cancel
• disannul
• dissolve
• invalidate
• negate
• null
• quash
• repeal
• rescind
• roll back
• strike down
• vacate
• void

Choose the Right Synonym for nullify

nullify, negate, annul, abrogate, invalidate mean to deprive of effective or continued existence.

nullify implies counteracting completely the force, effectiveness, or value of something.

a penalty nullified the touchdown

negate implies the destruction or canceling out of each of two things by the other.

the arguments negate each other

annul suggests making ineffective or nonexistent often by legal or official action.

the treaty annuls all previous agreements

abrogate is like annul but more definitely implies a legal or official act.

a law to abrogate trading privileges

invalidate implies making something powerless or unacceptable by declaration of its logical or moral or legal unsoundness.

the court invalidated the statute

Examples of nullify in a Sentence

The law has been nullified by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The penalty nullified the goal.

Recent Examples on the Web

Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to consider two bills Thursday that would effectively nullify the Supreme Court's rulings against patents on broad software processes and human genes. —Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 18 Sep. 2024

Or worse, a TV viewer could get up and go to the bathroom between fights and completely miss one of the 90-second films, nullifying some $3 million in expenditure. —Matt Craig, Forbes, 11 Sep. 2024

The controversial $100,000 per year NIL deals between players on the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces’ and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority includes language that specifically nullifies the arrangement in the event it is found to violate the WNBA’s collective bargaining agreement. —Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 30 July 2024

However, the commission cannot reduce or nullify the discipline. —Dennis Warren, Orlando Sentinel, 25 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin nullificare, from Latin nullus

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

nullify

verb

nul·​li·​fy ˈnəl-ə-ˌfī 

nullified; nullifying

: to make null or valueless

especially : annul

Legal Definition

nullify

transitive verb

nul·​li·​fy ˈnə-lə-ˌfī 

nullified; nullifying

: to make null

nullify a contract