invalidate
Americanverb
-
to render weak or ineffective, as an argument
-
to take away the legal force or effectiveness of; annul, as a contract
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
invalidatesimple
-
invalidatessimple
-
have invalidatedperfect
-
has invalidatedperfect
-
am invalidatingprogressive
-
are invalidatingprogressive
-
is invalidatingprogressive
-
have been invalidatingperfect progressive
-
has been invalidatingperfect progressive
Past
-
invalidatedsimple
-
had invalidatedperfect
-
was invalidatingprogressive
-
were invalidatingprogressive
-
had been invalidatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of invalidate
Explanation
If administrators find out that students cheated on a test, the school might invalidate their class grades. To invalidate means to cancel something or make it void, as if it never happened. In invalidate you see the word valid which means true or correct. When you invalidate something you are making it less true, less official, or less correct. If you buy something that doesn't work properly and then try to fix it yourself, you invalidate the warranty. If you have a wacky theory that cars grow from trees, your teacher might invalidate your theory by taking you on a tour of an auto factory.
Vocabulary lists containing invalidate
Red Scarf Girl
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Vocabulary Video Contest (2013) - List 2
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Far from the Tree
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Hsieh’s family declared the will a “scam” in December and asked the courts to invalidate the document, but the court in May appointed a “special master” to oversee forensic testing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026
Markets evolve quickly, and subsequent price action can strengthen, invalidate, or reshape even well-reasoned calls.
From Barron's ● Jun. 17, 2026
At that time, Infantino suggested such a move could invalidate a country's World Cup hosting rights.
From BBC ● Jun. 9, 2026
One doctor never examined her, while another barely spoke to her; either of these issues could invalidate competency declarations and expose medical misconduct, fraud and/or conspiracy.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 19, 2026
The half-broken mini blind that would surely invalidate their deposit if they ever moved out.
From "We'll Fly Away" by Bryan Bliss
The ruling invalidates actions Lake took while running the agency between July and November 2025, including sweeping staff reductions and operational changes that sharply curtailed Voice of America’s operations.
From Salon ● Mar. 8, 2026
“It celebrates and beautifies the city in a way few other movies ever have,” says Anthony Cavalluzzi of Yorba Linda, adding, “Its absence completely invalidates the list.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 13, 2026
“The IRS deemed that if you participate in one of these it invalidates your ability to contribute to an HSA. That restriction has been removed,” Robertson says.
From Barron's ● Oct. 5, 2025
The 39-page ruling invalidates the Payday Lending Rule, which became effective in 2018.
From Washington Times ● Oct. 19, 2022
But the failure of these sciences to give us a picture of the living world in no way invalidates their truth, or deprives them of their utility.
From The Philosophy of Spinoza by Ratner, Joseph
Yet in 2024, the 5th Circuit once again invalidated the law, holding that it still gave the Horseracing Authority too much discretion over enforcement.
From Slate ● Jun. 12, 2026
However, this structure was invalidated following the break of the short-term uptrend line earlier this week.
From Barron's ● Jun. 4, 2026
When his multi-billion-dollar pay package for Tesla was invalidated by a judge in December 2024, Musk simply reincorporated the entire company in Texas and got a potentially even bigger pay package approved by shareholders.
From BBC ● May 18, 2026
“We have found no actions that require reconsideration or that are invalidated as a result of these developments.”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 11, 2026
Supreme Court finally invalidated them in Lawrence v.
From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove
Lifting the "do not travel" advice means that people travelling to the UAE will no longer risk invalidating their travel insurance.
From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2026
Despite the Supreme Court invalidating tariffs, the process for retailers to secure refunds, or for shoppers to receive them, remains unclear.
From Barron's ● Mar. 12, 2026
“For example, they may be trying to find a middle ground, perhaps invalidating the tariffs but limiting refunds to ‘prospective relief’ only, not to past tariffs collected.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 14, 2026
And the 3rd Circuit refused to revisit a recent decision invalidating Pennsylvania laws that bar those under 21 from carrying guns in public during a state of emergency.
From Slate ● Mar. 17, 2025
Thomas winced; Frypan had gone too far with that recommendation, almost invalidating his well-stated opinion of the whole mess.
From "The Maze Runner" by James Dashner
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
