void

1 of 3

adjective

ˈvȯid 

1

a

: of no legal force or effect : null

a void contract

b

: voidable

2

: containing nothing

void space

3

a

: not occupied : vacant

a void bishopric

b

: not inhabited : deserted

4

: idle, leisure

5

a

: being without something specified : devoid

a nature void of all malice

b

: having no members or examples

specifically, of a suit : having no cards represented in a particular hand

6

: vain, useless

voidness noun

void

2 of 3

noun

1

a

: opening, gap

b

: empty space : emptiness, vacuum

2

: the quality or state of being without something : lack, absence

3

: a feeling of want or hollowness

4

: absence of cards of a particular suit in a hand originally dealt to a player

void

3 of 3

verb

voided; voiding; voids

transitive verb

1

: nullify, annul

2

a

: to make empty or vacant : clear

b

archaic : vacate, leave

3

: discharge, emit

intransitive verb

: to eliminate solid or liquid waste from the body

voider noun

Synonyms

Adjective

• bad
• inoperative
• invalid
• nonbinding
• nonvalid
• nugatory
• null
• null and void

Noun

• gap
• hiatus
• hole
• lacuna
• space

Verb

• abate
• abolish
• abrogate
• annul
• avoid
• cancel
• disannul
• dissolve
• invalidate
• negate
• null
• nullify
• quash
• repeal
• rescind
• roll back
• strike down
• vacate

Choose the Right Synonym for void

empty, vacant, blank, void, vacuous mean lacking contents which could or should be present.

empty suggests a complete absence of contents.

an empty bucket

vacant suggests an absence of appropriate contents or occupants.

a vacant apartment

blank stresses the absence of any significant, relieving, or intelligible features on a surface.

a blank wall

void suggests absolute emptiness as far as the mind or senses can determine.

a statement void of meaning

vacuous suggests the emptiness of a vacuum and especially the lack of intelligence or significance.

a vacuous facial expression

Example Sentences

Adjective

This sales offer is void where prohibited by law.

an agreement is void if obtained by force

Noun

the great voids between galaxies

a repressed memory that left a huge void in her recollection of her adolescent years

Verb

The judge voided the contract.

Any unauthorized repairs will void the warranty.

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Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The lawsuit was filed shortly after the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District unanimously approved a resolution to declare an agreement designed to undercut the new board's power as void. —Jack Birle, Washington Examiner, 26 Apr. 2023

However, the agency had declined to approve that deal because the ground lease was an unapproved management contract and therefore void. —Mark Maremont, WSJ, 7 Dec. 2022

Some modifications may render your warranty void. —Elizabeth Rivelli, Car and Driver, 10 Nov. 2022

Incomplete submissions are void. —Outside Online, 3 June 2022

Others may have failed, full of nothing but void. —Popular Mechanics, 7 Apr. 2023

Terms apply, void where prohibited by law. —Orlando Mayorquin, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2023

That has yielded a lot of screaming into the social media void about the 1990s, and Rick Majerus, and Keith Van Horn, and filling the place, and fans hanging from the rafters during the old Late Night Snack in the WAC tip-offs at 10 p.m., and on, and on, and on. —Josh Newman, The Salt Lake Tribune, 14 Dec. 2022

For the first time in its 157-year history, the Grand National steeplechase is declared void because of a false start. —Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2023

Noun

Hampton joins third-round pick Byron Young as young players who will try to help fill the void. —Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2023

Scientists have known that black holes emanate jets, but this image is the first to show the jet’s base connecting to the black hole’s accretion disk, or the collection of matter that releases radiation as it’s sucked inside the void. —Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Apr. 2023

Now Calloni and his colleagues hope to use the Casimir effect to measure the energy of the void. —Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2023

But Keith and his colleagues’ number-crunching fills a vital void. —IEEE Spectrum, 14 Mar. 2023

Just four years ago, the Alliance of American Football attempted to fill the post-Super Bowl football void, only to fold with two weeks still left to play in its inaugural season. —Jim Reineking, USA TODAY, 18 Feb. 2023

If Jackson or Baldwin have to miss consistent time, there aren’t other athletes that can step up and fill that void. —Dallas News, 14 Feb. 2023

With Urías out, the team planned to move Brian Anderson from right field to third base on a regular basis and called up Wiemer to fill the resulting outfield void. —Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2023

Absolute nothing, then, is pure void: no time, no space, no energy, no lack of these things. —Popular Mechanics, 31 Mar. 2023

Verb

Some legal experts see the 14th Amendment as a way to void the debt limit. —Politifact Staff Writer, Dallas News, 16 May 2023

DeSantis says the Florida Legislature will void Disney's agreement with Reedy Creek. —George Petras, USA Today, 16 May 2023

In late April, DeSantis’ tax district declared Disney’s development agreements void. —Lori Rozsa, Washington Post, 15 May 2023

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, cited the board's actions of voiding an agreement Disney made with the previous Reedy Creek Improvement District board. —Jack Birle, Washington Examiner, 10 May 2023

Senate Bill 357, signed by the governor in July, voids a misdemeanor law against loitering in public for the purpose of engaging in prostitution. —San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2023

That law was ultimately voided by the courts on procedural grounds and Mugisha is hoping for a similar outcome this time. —Reuters, NBC News, 13 Apr. 2023

The first wager a new user places must be a cash bet as bets placed with betting credits will void this promo. —Ian Firstenberg, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2023

Florida courts have ruled that violations of the Sunshine Law can void official action. —Skyler Swisher, Orlando Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English voyde, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *vocitus, alteration of Latin vocivus, vacivus empty, from vacare to be empty

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French voider (Old French of Île-de-France vuider) Vulgar Latin *vocitare, from *vocitus

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Noun

1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2a

Phrases Containing void

• null and void
• void of

• null and void
• void of

Kids Definition

void

1 of 3 adjective

ˈvȯid 

1

: containing nothing : empty

void space

2

: being without something specified : devoid

a person void of common sense

3

: of no legal force or effect

a void contract

void

2 of 3 noun

1

: empty space

2

: a feeling of want or hollowness

void

3 of 3 verb

: to make void

void a contract

Medical Definition

void

transitive verb

ˈvȯid 

: to discharge or emit

void urine

intransitive verb

: to eliminate solid or liquid waste from the body

frequent voiding

Legal Definition

void

1 of 2 adjective

ˈvȯid 

1

: of no force or effect under law

a void marriage

2

: voidable

voidness noun

void

2 of 2 transitive verb

: to make or declare void

void a contract