verb · 6 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
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/ˈnʌlɪfaɪ/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:N AH1 L AH0 F AY2
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
verb
Meaning 1
To make legally invalid.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Topics: law
Examples
Near-synonyms: cancel, void, quash
The contract has been nullified.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: cancel, void, quash
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To prevent from happening.
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 make of no use or value; to cancel out.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
make ineffective by counterbalancing the effect of
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
Her optimism neutralizes his gloom
This action will negate the effect of my efforts
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: neutralize, neutralise, negate
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: weaken
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: invalidate
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: negate, contradict
6
verb
Meaning 6
declare invalid
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
The contract was annulled
void a plea
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: invalidate, annul, quash, void, avoid
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: cancel, strike down
Narrower terms: break, stet
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English null Latin -i- Proto-Indo-European *dheh1-der. Proto-Italic *θakos Proto-Italic *-fakos Latin -ficus Proto-Indo-European *-h2 Proto-Indo-European *-éh2 Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh2yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h2tiinflu. Proto-Italic *-ājō Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin -ficō Latin -ificāreder. Old French -ifierbor. Middle English -ifien English -ify English nullify From null + -ify.
Across languages
Translations
58 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
анулирам
(anuliram)
— make legally invalid
Chinese Mandarin:
使無效 /使无效
(shǐ wúxiào)
— make legally invalid
Chinese Mandarin:
廢除 /废除
(fèichú)
— make legally invalid
Chinese Mandarin:
宣告無效 /宣告无效
(xuāngào wúxiào)
— make legally invalid
Dutch:
annuleren
— make legally invalid
Dutch:
vernietigen
— make legally invalid
Dutch:
ongedaan maken
— make legally invalid
Finnish:
mitätöidä
— make legally invalid
French:
annuler
— make legally invalid
French:
nullifier
— make legally invalid
German:
annullieren
— make legally invalid
Greek:
ακυρώνω
(akyróno)
— make legally invalid
Ancient Greek:
ἀθετέω
(athetéō)
— make legally invalid
Hebrew:
בִּטֵּל
(bitél)
— make legally invalid
Hungarian:
érvénytelenít
— make legally invalid
Hungarian:
hatálytalanít
— make legally invalid
Interlingua:
nullificar
— make legally invalid
Italian:
annullare
— make legally invalid
Italian:
cassare
— make legally invalid
Japanese:
取り消す
(torikesu)
— make legally invalid
Japanese:
破棄する
(haki suru)
— make legally invalid
Korean:
취소하다
(chwisohada)
— make legally invalid
Māori:
whakakāhore
— make legally invalid
Portuguese:
anular
— make legally invalid
Portuguese:
cassar
— make legally invalid
Romanian:
a anula
— make legally invalid
Russian:
аннули́ровать
(annulírovatʹ)
— make legally invalid
Spanish:
anular
— make legally invalid
Spanish:
derogar
— make legally invalid
Spanish:
abrogar
— make legally invalid
Spanish:
casar
— make legally invalid
Swedish:
omintetgöra
— make legally invalid
Swedish:
annullera
— make legally invalid
Swedish:
upphäva
— make legally invalid
Swedish:
ogiltigförklara
— make legally invalid
Ottoman Turkish:
ابطال ایتمك
(ibtâl etmek)
— make legally invalid
Ottoman Turkish:
بوزمق
(bozmak)
— make legally invalid
Ukrainian:
нуліфікува́ти
(nulifikuváty)
— make legally invalid
Ukrainian:
скасо́вувати
(skasóvuvaty)
— make legally invalid
Ukrainian:
скасува́ти
(skasuváty)
— make legally invalid
Yiddish:
מבֿטל זײַן
(mevatl zayn)
— make legally invalid
Bulgarian:
неутрализирам
(neutraliziram)
— prevent from happening
Chinese Mandarin:
阻止
(zǔzhǐ)
— prevent from happening
Chinese Mandarin:
防止
(fángzhǐ)
— prevent from happening
Finnish:
estää
— prevent from happening
Finnish:
ehkäistä
— prevent from happening
French:
annuler
— prevent from happening
Hungarian:
megakadályoz
— prevent from happening
Portuguese:
evitar
— prevent from happening
Chinese Mandarin:
使無用 /使无用
(shǐ wúyòng)
— make of no use or value
Chinese Mandarin:
抵消
(dǐxiāo)
— make of no use or value