invalidate

[in-val-i-deyt]

verb (used with object)

invalidated, invalidating 

1. to render invalid; discredit.

   Synonyms: rebut, refute, disprove, impair, weaken

2. to deprive of legal force or efficacy; nullify.

invalidate

/ ɪnˈvælɪˌdeɪt /

verb

1. to render weak or ineffective, as an argument

2. to take away the legal force or effectiveness of; annul, as a contract

Other Word Forms

• invalidation noun
• invalidator noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of invalidate¹

First recorded in 1640–50; invalid ² + -ate ¹

Example Sentences

A Norwegian appeals court on Friday upheld a lower court's ruling invalidating three oil permits in the major crude producer for insufficient environmental-impact studies, in a new victory for climate campaigners.

Read more on Barron's

The alleged victim later spoke out against the verdict, saying it would not "invalidate the truth or erase the pain I have suffered".

Read more on BBC

Some in the markets have worried that a Supreme Court ruling that invalidated the tariffs would threaten that trend, by eliminating a source of revenue and putting the deficit on a worse trajectory.

Read more on Barron's

The court needn’t invalidate Section 2 to correct this imbalance.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But to abandon his bike and take public transport would have invalidated his record after cycling thousands of kilometres over more than 60 days.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• abolish 
• abrogate 
• annul 
• discredit 
• disqualify 
• impair 
• negate 
• nullify 
• overrule 
• quash 
• revoke 
• undermine 
• undo