# nullify

/ˈnəɫəˌfaɪ/ (US) · /nˈʌlɪfˌaɪ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/nullify
Updated: 2026-05-20

## Definition

to make something invalid or to cancel its effect. You use this when a law or a contract is no longer useful or legal.

For teachers: to make something ineffective, invalid, or legally void. Often describes the process of rendering a legal document or a contract unenforceable.

## Examples

- The new law will nullify the old one.
- The judge ruled that the evidence was so biased that it would nullify the entire trial.
- The constitutional amendment was designed to nullify the previous executive order, effectively restoring the original legal framework that had been suspended during the emergency.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.