nullify

verb nul·li·fy \ ˈnə-lə-ˌfī \

Definition of nullify

nullified; nullifying

transitive verb

1 :to make null (see ¹null 1); especially :to make legally null and void

nullify a law

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

a promise later nullified

See nullify defined for English-language learners

See nullify defined for kids

Examples of nullify in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of nullify from the Web

The proposal from Abrogate Prohibition Michigan of Midland would nullify all laws prohibiting or regulating the use of marijuana and impose no fines, taxes or penalties on its use.

— paul egan, Detroit Free Press, "New marijuana legalization petition gets green light from Board of Canvassers," 17 Aug. 2017
The new law nullified a part of Indianapolis' ordinance that mandated vendors not ask job applicants about their criminal histories.

— james briggs, Indianapolis Star, "Briggs: Indianapolis can't 'ban the box' anymore, but a new policy might have the same effect," 11 Aug. 2017
Allowing insurers to sell across state lines would, in practice, mean allowing insurers in (loosely regulated) Mississippi to sell cheap, skimpy plans to New Yorkers, thereby nullifying the Empire State’s duly enacted benefit requirements.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "House Moderates Have a Bipartisan Health-Care Bill," 4 Aug. 2017
Those fees should have nullified the government guarantee behind the loans, but the bank still collected guarantee payments on loans that went bad, the brokers claimed.

— james rufus koren, latimes.com, "Wells Fargo says number of unauthorized accounts, legal expenses could rise," 4 Aug. 2017
But by failing to build on those outings Wednesday, the Timbers nullified the significance of those performances.

— OregonLive.com, "Portland Timbers fall apart in 4-1 loss to Real Salt Lake: 5 takeaways," 20 July 2017
On July 7th the high court accepted the main opposition party’s bid to nullify the tender for printing the ballots for the presidency amid accusations that the printing contract had been improperly awarded.

— The Economist, "How to unrig an electionNew methods and technology can make elections fairer," 20 July 2017
Some fans believe the mark made by the Night King could nullify these spells, causing the Wall to come crashing down after Bran has crossed to the other side.

— megan mccluskey, Time, "10 Game of Thrones Questions We Desperately Want Answered in Season 7," 14 July 2017
Such a Marshall Plan–like investment would also send a message to China that its own nuclear deterrent could be compromised and nullified by the defensive efforts of its immediate neighbors.

— victor davis hanson, National Review, "West Can Neither Live with nor Take Out North Korean Nukes," 13 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'nullify.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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.

Origin and Etymology of nullify

Late Latin nullificare, from Latin nullus

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1607

See Words from the same year

nullify Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of 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

NULLIFY Defined for English Language Learners

nullify

verb

Definition of nullify for English Language Learners

: to make (something) legally null
: to cause (something) to lose its value or to have no effect

Law Dictionary

nullify

transitive verb nul·li·fy \ ˈnə-lə-ˌfī \

legal Definition of nullify

nullified; nullifying

:to make null

nullify a contract

Learn More about nullify

See words that rhyme with nullify Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for nullify Spanish Central: Translation of nullify Nglish: Translation of nullify for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of nullify for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up nullify? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

nullify

Definition of nullify

Explore M-W

Examples of nullify in a Sentence

Recent Examples of nullify from the Web

Did You Know?

Origin and Etymology of nullify

nullify Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Synonym Discussion of nullify

NULLIFY Defined for English Language Learners

nullify

Definition of nullify for English Language Learners

Law Dictionary

nullify

legal Definition of nullify

Learn More about nullify

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Learned Fools: On Names for Students

Trending: NY Times: Trump's Call Ignites 'Imbroglio'

The Exceptions Quiz III

17 English Words that Come From Japanese

Words of the Year: 1066