v.
Pronunciation: ' n ə -l ə - ˌ f ī
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form: -fied ; -fy · ing
Etymology: Late Latin nullificare, from Latin nullus
Date: 1595
1 : to make null especially : to make legally null and void
2 : to make of no value or consequence
synonyms 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>.