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

Examples of void in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Search is void in the Balkans, Belarus, Burma, Cote D’ivoire (Ivory Coast), Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran, Iraq, Liberia, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, Zimbabwe and where prohibited by law. —TIME.com, 1 Nov. 2024

And 90% of the movie, including stuff that’s like interdimensional void stuff, all was actually at that farm. —Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 6 Oct. 2024

Noun

Fortunately, Carpenter was willing to fill the void and ended up making her festival headlining debut at the three-day event in August at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. —Randy McMullen, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024

Instead, state and local election officials are trying to fill the void. —Sam Sabin, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024

Verb

In biotech, the Biden-Harris administration agreed at the World Trade Organization that countries can void patent protections on the mRNA technology behind the COVID-19 vaccines, essentially inviting China and other hostile nations to appropriate our intellectual property. —Andrei Iancu, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2024

Since the mattress on a Murphy bed sits in a vertical position for extended periods of time, make sure this positioning won’t damage the mattress and void your warranty. —Lindsay Boyers, Architectural Digest, 29 Oct. 2024

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

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