First Known Use: 1595
Dictionary
nullify
verb nul·li·fy \ˈnə-lə-ˌfī\
: to make (something) legally null
: to cause (something) to lose its value or to have no effect
nul·li·fiednul·li·fy·ing
Full Definition of NULLIFY
transitive verb
1
: to make null; especially : to make legally null and void
2
: to make of no value or consequence
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Origin of NULLIFY
Late Latin nullificare, from Latin nullus
Related to NULLIFY
Synonym Discussion of 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>.
Rhymes with NULLIFY
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