noun
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a formal invalidation, as of a marriage, judicial proceeding, etc
-
the act of annulling
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of annulment
Explanation
An annulment is the cancellation of revocation of something, like a marriage. After an annulment, it's like the marriage never happened. The root nul (from Latin nullum) of this word is a good clue to its meaning: the underlying verb annul originally meant "reduce to nothing." An annulment also reduces something to nothing by canceling or terminating it, usually in a legal sense. The most common use of the term is the annulment of a marriage, which not only ends the marriage, but legally makes it as if the marriage never happened. Annulment is like a legal eraser.
Vocabulary lists containing annulment
The Renaissance and Reformation, Lessons 5–6
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Notes of a Native Son
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Cold Sassy Tree
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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:
There are some instances when that may change, such as in the event the second marriage ends in an annulment, divorce or death.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026
Human Rights Watch also recently called for "the annulment of the unjust sentences", denouncing "unfounded accusations".
From Barron's ● Nov. 27, 2025
But the annulment came too late to prevent observance of the holiday in most of Connecticut.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 25, 2025
Although Henry married his cousin, their marriage was apparently never consummated and his wife later filed for annulment.
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2025
The following are the causes or grounds for such annulment: 1.
From Marriage and Divorce Laws of the World by Hyacinthe Ringrose
Flight annulments at New York’s La Guardia and Newark’s Liberty International airports were almost as high.
From Barron's ● Feb. 24, 2026
The Roman Catholic Church operates tribunals that consider spiritual issues and marriage annulments.
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2025
He is a canon lawyer, an expert on church laws, such as those guiding Catholic annulments or disputes.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 24, 2021
Conservative Catholics have criticised the pope, saying he sends mixed signals on issues such the pastoral care of homosexuals and those who remarry civilly without Church annulments.
From Reuters ● Oct. 30, 2020
The Copyright Office has no authority to recognize annulments, but it has noted request for annulment when received on the registry.
From Copyright: Its History and Its Law by Richard Rogers Bowker
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.
