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

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

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

Critics of the Trump administration say its efforts to nullify the agency will cripple American influence overseas and carry devastating effects for some of the most vulnerable populations in the world, which relied on U.S. funding for health care, food, and other basic needs. —Will Steakin, ABC News, 28 Mar. 2025

Judges are now appointing themselves as head of the Bureau of Prisons to nullify election results. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025

The members of the Jan. 6 investigative committee are hitting back at President Trump for his threat to nullify the presidential pardons surrounding their work. —Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 17 Mar. 2025

Having previously been steadfast in his use of a 3-4-1-2/3-4-2-1 system, Gasperini now routinely tweaks his setup to both nullify the strengths of opponents and exploit their weaknesses. —Adam Digby, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin nullificare, from Latin nullus

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for nullify

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

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