Main Entry:

nul·li·fy

Pronunciation:

\ˈnə-lə-ˌfī\

Function:

transitive verb

Inflected Form(s):

nul·li·fied; nul·li·fy·ing

Etymology:

Late Latin nullificare, from Latin nullus

Date:

1595

1: to make null ; especially : to make legally null and void2: to make of no value or consequence

synonyms 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>.