annul

[uh-nuhl]

verb (used with object)

annulled, annulling 

1. (especially of laws or other established rules, usages, etc.) to make void or null; abolish; cancel; invalidate.

   to annul a marriage.

   Synonyms: repeal, rescind, nullify

2. to reduce to nothing; obliterate.

3. to cancel (a regularly scheduled train, plane, social event, etc.) for one day or one time only.

annul

/ əˈnʌl /

verb

1. (tr) to make (something, esp a law or marriage) void; cancel the validity of; abolish

Other Word Forms

• annullable adjective
• self-annulling adjective
• unannullable adjective
• unannulled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of annul¹

1375–1425; late Middle English < Anglo-French annuler < Late Latin adnūllāre render null (calque of Greek exoudeneîn ), equivalent to ad- ad- + -nullāre, verbal derivative of Latin nūllus no, not any

Word History and Origins

Origin of annul¹

C14: from Old French annuller, from Late Latin annullāre to bring to nothing, from Latin nullus not any; see _null

Example Sentences

It is ironic that Parrott has a penchant for tattoos - his injury time winner against Hungary on Sunday is a moment now permanently inked in the annuls of Irish football.

Read more on BBC

Apart from the corruption case, prosecutors have accused him of a raft of other offences including espionage and forging his university diploma, a qualification that has since been annulled.

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Judges on the Constitutional Council had dismissed eight complaints about the election, citing insufficient evidence of irregularities or a lack of jurisdiction to annul results.

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Kostyrko filed for divorce several months later, and in February, a Russian judge annulled the marriage, allowing one month for the decision to be appealed.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Judges on the constitutional council dismissed eight petitions, citing insufficient evidence of irregularities or a lack of jurisdiction to annul results.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• abolish 
• abrogate 
• cancel 
• declare 
• delete 
• dissolve 
• expunge 
• invalidate 
• nullify 
• quash 
• repeal 
• rescind 
• retract 
• reverse 
• revoke 
• undo 
• vacate