void

1 of 3

adjective

1
a
: of no legal force or effect : null
a void contract
b
2
: containing nothing
void space
3
a
: not occupied : vacant
a void bishopric
b
: not inhabited : deserted
4
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
voidness noun

void

2 of 3

noun

1
a
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
2
a
: to make empty or vacant : clear
b
archaic : vacate, leave
3

intransitive verb

: to eliminate solid or liquid waste from the body
voider noun
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. See More
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 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'void.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of void was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near void

Cite this Entry

“Void.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/void. Accessed 31 May. 2023.

Kids Definition

void

1 of 3 adjective
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
: 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
1
: of no force or effect under law
a void marriage
2
voidness noun

void

2 of 2 transitive verb
: to make or declare void
void a contract

More from Merriam-Webster on void

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