nullify

verb

nul·​li·​fy ˈnə-lə-ˌfī 

nullified; nullifying

transitive verb

1

: to make null (see null entry 1 sense 1)

especially : to make legally null and void

nullify a law

2

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

a promise later nullified

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.

Synonyms of nullify

• abolish
• repeal
• cancel
• overturn
• invalidate
• avoid

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of nullify in a Sentence

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

The penalty nullified the goal.

Recent Examples on the Web

His appellate legal team has been aggressively searching for any and every legal avenue that would overturn the judge’s sentence, nullify the jury’s guilty verdict, or even discredit the very criminal law that Combs was prosecuted under. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026

At the same time, competing ballot measures that would nullify Prop 40 also have majority support. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026

Proposition 41, which is pitched as a government transparency measure requiring auditor approval for new tax proposals but would nullify the billionaire tax, carried 51% of voters in the poll, against 44% no and 5% undecided. — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 16 Sep. 2026

An unusual fundraising alliance among Virginia Democrats highlights how the state can still help determine balance of power in the House this fall even though redistricting efforts were nullified by a court ruling. — Gregory S. Schneider, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin nullificare, from Latin nullus

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for nullify

• abscissae
• adonai
• alibi
• alkali
• alumni
• amoebae
• amplify
• annuli
• beautify
• brachii
• butterfly
• calculi

Kids Definition

nullify

verb

nul·​li·​fy ˈnəl-ə-ˌfī 

nullified; nullifying

: to make null or valueless

especially : annul

Legal Definition

nullify

transitive verb

nul·​li·​fy ˈnə-lə-ˌfī 

nullified; nullifying

: to make null

nullify a contract