null

¹null

adj \ˈnəl\

Definition of NULL

1

: having no legal or binding force : invalid

2

: amounting to nothing : nil

3

: having no value : insignificant

4

a : having no elements <null set> b : having zero as a limit <null sequence> c of a matrix : having all elements equal to zero

5

a : indicating usually by a zero reading on a scale when a given quantity (as current or voltage) is zero or when two quantities are equal —used of an instrument b : being or relating to a method of measurement in which an unknown quantity (as of electric current) is compared with a known quantity of the same kind and found equal by a null detector

6

: of, being, or relating to zero

7

: zero 1c

Examples of NULL

1. <the contract was null because one party forgot to sign it>
2. <that information is as null as no information at all>

Origin of NULL

Anglo-French nul, literally, not any, from Latin nullus, from ne- not + ullus any; akin to Latin unus one — more at no, one

First Known Use: circa 1567

Related to NULL

Synonyms: bad, inoperative, invalid, nonbinding, nonvalid, nugatory, null and void, void

Antonyms: binding, good, valid

Related Words: illegal; useless, worthless; ineffective, ineffectual

Near Antonyms: legal; working

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Rhymes with NULL

cull, dull, gull, hull, lull, mull, scull, skull, trull