NullifyTo make a law, decision, or action no longer valid. means to make something legallyAccording to the law or through official rules. or officially invalidNot legally accepted, recognized, or effective., or to cancel out its effect. It is often used in formal or legal English.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈnʌlɪfaɪ/
Easy pronunciation: NUL-ih-fy (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable: NUL.
Used here in the sense of “to declare something invalid or no longer legally effective.”
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Nullify Meaning
to make something count for nothing, especially officially or legally
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to declare something invalid or no longer legally effective
Example: The court ruled that the contract was nullified.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- annul — A close formal substitute when a law, ruling, or agreement is made invalid.
- invalidate — Works well when something is made legally or officially invalid.
- void — Can work in formal legal use, especially as a verb meaning to make something invalid.
- quash — Often used for official decisions or court actions, but it is narrower than nullify.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Nullify
Meaning 2
to prove that something is not valid
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to show that something is invalid or not legally sound
Example: The evidence nullified their claim.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- invalidate — Works when the result is to prove something invalid.
Meaning 3
to cancel the effect of something
Part of speech: verb
Definition: to make something ineffective by cancelling out its effect
Example: A late penalty nullified the team's early lead.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- negate — A good match when one thing cancels out the effect of another.
- neutralise — Suitable in British English for making an effect or threat ineffective.
- neutralize — Suitable in American English for making an effect or threat ineffective.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Nullify Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- annul
- invalidate
- void
- quash
to show that something is invalid or not legally sound
- invalidate
to make something ineffective by cancelling out its effect
- negate
- neutralise
- neutralize
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse nullify with notify, which means to tell someone something.
- Do not use nullify for every kind of cancellation; it usually means making something legally invalid or cancelling its effect.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does nullify mean?
Nullify means to make something invalid or to cancel out its effect.
What is a simple synonym for nullify?
A simple synonym can be invalidate, though the best synonym depends on the sense. For legal use, annul and invalidate are strong choices.
Is nullify formal?
Yes. Nullify is fairly formal and is common in legal, official, and written English.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.