annul

[uh-nuhl]

See more synonyms for annul on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), an·nulled, an·nul·ling.

(especially of laws or other established rules, usages, etc.) to make void or null; abolish; cancel; invalidate: to annul a marriage.
to reduce to nothing; obliterate.
to cancel (a regularly scheduled train, plane, social event, etc.) for one day or one time only.

Origin of annul

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

Related formsan·nul·la·ble, adjectiveself-an·nul·ling, adjectiveun·an·nul·la·ble, adjectiveun·an·nulled, adjective

Can be confusedanal annual annul

Synonyms for annul

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com

1. nullify; rescind, repeal.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for annul

invalidate, delete, revoke, reverse, expunge, vacate, undo, abolish, nullify, retract, quash, dissolve, cancel, abrogate, repeal, declare, rescind, efface, scrub, annihilate

Examples from the Web for annul

Contemporary Examples of annul

Two years later, the reprimand was overturned, but Mia was unsuccessful in her bid to annul the adoptions.
The Woody Allen Allegations: Not So Fast
Robert B. Weide
January 27, 2014
By all accounts, Rafsanjani has been the main force behind the scenes trying to annul the elections.
Friday Surprise in Iran?
Reza Aslan
July 16, 2009

Historical Examples of annul

You ought to annul the debt by paying small sums on account.
The Memoires of Casanova, Complete
Jacques Casanova de Seingalt
Then the State has clothed one of its agents with power to annul or evade it.
The Journal of Negro History, Volume 6, 1921
Various
He was, therefore, competent to annul virtually a penal statute.
"Stops"
Paul Allardyce
"I find no fault; but I annul the contract," said my father.
Down South
Oliver Optic
But as no law of man can annul the commandment of God, so neither can it be done by any vow.
The Confession of Faith
Various

British Dictionary definitions for annul

annul

verb -nuls, -nulling or -nulled

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

Derived Formsannullable, adjective

Word Origin for annul

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for annul

late 14c., from Old French anuller (13c.) or directly from Late Latin annullare "to make to nothing," from Latin ad- "to" (see ad-) + nullum, neuter of nullus "nothing" (see null). Related: Annulled; annulling.