nullify

verb nul·li·fy \ ˈnə-lə-ˌfī \

Updated on: 12 May 2018

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

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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

All the hullabaloo generated by Napoli's epic victory in Turin last weekend was nullified by this weekend’s results, which heavily favored the incumbent.

— juan pimiento, chicagotribune.com, "Iniesta's farewell, Barcelona win La Liga and the best of the weekend in soccer," 29 Apr. 2018
That court order will essentially be nullified if ballast regulation is turned over to the Coast Guard.

— dan egan, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "U.S. Senate voting this week on looser rules for Great Lakes ships dumping ballast water," 17 Apr. 2018
Some are mounting a petition drive for a November ballot initiative to nullify the 12 cents-per-gallon tax and car registration fee increases in Senate Bill 1.

— tony bizjak, sacbee, "I-5 is ‘falling apart,’ and a massive fix is coming. Drivers, buckle up. | The Sacramento Bee," 12 Apr. 2018
That deadline was effectively nullified by recent court actions.

— author: mike debonis, erica werner, Anchorage Daily News, "Congress passes budget with little time to spare," 23 Mar. 2018
Salah gave Laporte a headache in both of the quarter-final legs and Kolarov will have to be at his very best to nullify the 25-year-old.

— SI.com, "Surprise Packages Liverpool, Roma Kick Off Champions League Semifinal," 23 Apr. 2018
The county is seeking to nullify that decision in Fairfax County Circuit Court, with a trial expected by summer.

— antonio olivo, Washington Post, "Pumpkin patches vs. ropes courses: Fairfax County battles farmers over agritourism," 22 Apr. 2018
The spring-like impression left by the flowers belied what turned out to be a heavy grease-like coating in the mouth that nullified the contribution of the other ingredients.

— michael bauer, San Francisco Chronicle, "Why the restaurant Coi won’t be on this year’s Top 100 Restaurants list," 17 Apr. 2018
There is the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to nullify rules by a federal agency.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Switching from watchdog to lapdog," 6 Apr. 2018

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

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

nullify Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Near Antonyms

enact, lay down, legislate;

establish, found, institute;

formalize, legalize, legitimate, legitimize, validate;

pass, ratify;

allow, approve, authorize, clear, endorse (also indorse), permit, sanction, warrant;

command, decree, mandate, order, prescribe;

abort, call, call off, drop, recall, retract, reverse, revoke, suspend, withdraw;

ban, enjoin, forbid, outlaw, prohibit;

disallow, dismiss, reject;

annihilate, break down, eliminate, eradicate, erase, liquidate, remove, throw out, write off;

Phrases

do away with, set aside;

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.