nullity

noun nul·li·ty \ ˈnə-lə-tē \

Examples: nullity in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of nullity

plural nullities

1 a : the quality or state of being null; especially : legal invalidity

b (1) : nothingness; also : insignificance

(2) : a mere nothing : nonentity

2 : one that is null; specifically : an act void of legal effect

3 : the number of elements in a basis of a null-space

Examples of nullity in a Sentence

that tiny country's ambassador from the U.S. is usually some nullity who happens to be a friend or supporter of the current president
one of the basic themes of the theater of the absurd is the essential nullity of human existence

Recent Examples of nullity from the Web

Plaintiffs therefore lack standing, the Circuit Court lacks jurisdiction, and the order is a nullity.

— connor sheets, AL.com, "In final-hour order, court rules that Alabama can destroy digital voting records after all," 12 Dec. 2017
This dejecting gabble is even more pedestrian than the Hesychastic nullities of [Henri] Michaux.

— michael dirda, WSJ, "Review: W.M. Spackman’s Armful of Glittering Prose," 8 Dec. 2017
Wily Odysseus uses the answer as a successful stratagem to escape the Cyclops’ grasp, but, abandoned by the gods and his relatives and friends, Orestes confronts the reality of nullity.

— steven g. kellman, The Christian Science Monitor, "'House of Names' is Colm Tóibín's take on the House of Atreus," 9 June 2017

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

Did You Know?

Intellectuals may speak of a book or a film as a nullity, claiming it possesses nothing original enough to justify its existence. Legal scholars also use the word; a law passed by a legislature may be called a nullity if, for example, it's so obviously unconstitutional that it's going to be shot down by the courts in no time. And if you're in an unkind mood, you're also free to call a person a nullity, if you're not instead calling him a nobody, a nonentity, or a zero.

First Known Use of nullity

1543

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

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Law Dictionary

nullity

noun nul·li·ty \ ˈnə-lə-tē \

legal Definition of nullity

plural nullities

1 : the quality or state of being null

2 : an act, proceeding, or contract void of legal effect — compare impediment

— absolute nullity

in the civil law of Louisiana : a contract or act considered void by virtue of a transgression of the public order, interest, law, or morals

a bigamous marriage is an absolute nullity
—Louisiana Civil Code

also : the quality or state of such a nullity

Note: A marriage that is an absolute nullity does not have to be annulled to terminate its legal effects (as property rights).

— relative nullity

in the civil law of Louisiana : a nullity that can be cured by confirmation because the object involved is considered valid; also : the quality or state of such a nullity

Note: A contract that is a relative nullity may be annulled and the parties restored to their original positions. A marriage that is a relative nullity must be annulled to terminate the legal effects (as property rights) of the marriage.