Standard Lemma guide

invalidate

verb · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ɪnˈvæl.ɪ.deɪt/
  • US: /ɪnˈvæl.əˌdeɪt/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australian: /ɪnˈvæl.ə.dæɪt/
  • CMU ARPABET: IH2 N V AE1 L IH0 D EY2 T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To make invalid. Especially applied to contract law.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The circuit court judge's ruling was invalidated by a superior judge.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: extinguish

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To make or declare (an argument, statement, or theory) unsound or erroneous; disprove.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To render invalid; discredit.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Telling an angry person to "calm down" can invalidate their feelings.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

take away the legal force of or render ineffective

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • invalidate a contract

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: void, vitiate

Antonyms: validate

Broader terms: change, alter, modify

5

verb

Meaning 5

show to be invalid

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: nullify

Antonyms: validate

Broader terms: negate, contradict

6

verb

Meaning 6

make invalid for use

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • cancel cheques or tickets

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cancel

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: score, mark

7

verb

Meaning 7

declare invalid

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The contract was annulled
  • void a plea

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: annul, quash, void, avoid, nullify

Antonyms: validate

Broader terms: cancel, strike down

Narrower terms: break, stet

History

Etymology

First attested in 1649; borrowed from Middle French invalider, from invalide + -er. By surface analysis, in- + validate or invalid + -ate.

Across languages

Translations

27 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: обезсилвам (obezsilvam) — to make invalid
  • Bulgarian: анулирам (anuliram) — to make invalid
  • Catalan: invalidar — to make invalid
  • Chinese Mandarin: 使無效 /使无效 — to make invalid
  • Czech: zneplatnit — to make invalid
  • Dutch: ontkrachten — to make invalid
  • Finnish: mitätöidä — to make invalid
  • French: invalider — to make invalid
  • German: entkräften — to make invalid
  • Ancient Greek: ἀθετέω (athetéō) — to make invalid
  • Hindi: निरस्त (nirast) — to make invalid
  • Hungarian: érvénytelenít — to make invalid
  • Hungarian: hatálytalanít — to make invalid
  • Ido: desvalidigar — to make invalid
  • Latin: invalidō — to make invalid
  • Māori: whakanoa — to make invalid
  • Māori: whakamanakore — to make invalid
  • Polish: unieważniać — to make invalid
  • Polish: unieważnić — to make invalid
  • Slovak: zneplatniť — to make invalid
  • Spanish: invalidar — to make invalid
  • Swedish: ogiltigförklara — to make invalid
  • Turkish: geçersizleştirmek — to make invalid
  • Turkish: hükümsüz kılmak — to make invalid
  • Ottoman Turkish: ابطال ایتمك (ibtâl etmek) — to make invalid
  • Ottoman Turkish: بوزمق (bozmak) — to make invalid
  • Ukrainian: скасува́ти (skasuváty) — to make invalid