nullify
/ˈnʌl.ɪ.faɪ/- 1.
To officially make something legally invalid so it has no power or effect. This sense is most common in legal, governmental, or official contexts.
- The court decided to nullify the contract.
- The new law nullified several older regulations.
- A judge can nullify a ruling if proper procedure was not followed.
- 2.
To completely cancel out the effect of something so it no longer works or matters. One thing removes the power or result of another.
- The antidote nullified the poison's effect quickly.
- His late goal nullified the team's earlier advantage.
- Poor planning can nullify even the best intentions.
Adinary Nuance
'Nullify,' 'cancel,' 'invalidate,' and 'annul' all describe removing the force of something, but they are not freely interchangeable. 'Cancel' is the everyday word — you cancel a meeting or a subscription — while 'nullify' is formal and stronger, implying that something is made completely void, usually through an official act or decision. 'Invalidate' focuses on proving that something was never properly valid to begin with, whereas 'nullify' is an active, deliberate removal of validity going forward. 'Annul' sits closest to 'nullify' but is mostly restricted to legal relationships such as marriages or binding agreements, making it narrower in scope.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- Vô hiệu hóa
- Spanish
- Anular
- Chinese
- 使无效
- Japanese
- 無効にする
- Korean
- 무효화하다
Etymology
From Latin 'nullificare,' a combination of 'nullus' (none, not any) and 'facere' (to make). The word entered English in the late 15th century, primarily through legal and scholarly Latin texts.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is 'nullify' a formal word?
- Yes, 'nullify' is a formal word. It appears most often in legal documents, academic writing, and official reports. In everyday speech, people are more likely to say 'cancel' or 'get rid of.'
- What is the difference between 'nullify' and 'cancel'?
- 'Cancel' is a general, everyday word — you cancel a plan or an order. 'Nullify' is stronger and more official: it means making something completely without legal or practical force, usually through a formal decision or authority.
- Can I use 'nullify' in IELTS academic writing?
- Yes, 'nullify' is a strong vocabulary choice for IELTS Task 2 and academic writing. It demonstrates range, especially in essays about law, policy reform, or scientific cause and effect.
- What is the noun form of 'nullify'?
- The noun form is 'nullification.' For example: 'The nullification of the contract left both parties without a binding agreement.'