verb
annul
uh-NUHL
Annul (verb) means to officially declare something invalid or void, as if it never legally existed. Example: “The court annulled the contract due to fraud.”
verb
1
To officially declare something invalid or void, as if it never legally existed.
"The court annulled the contract due to fraud."
"They had their marriage annulled after just three months."
How to use annul
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo cancel something formally so that, legally, it's treated as if it never happened.
Common mistake
Annulling a marriage is different from divorce — an annulment treats the marriage as if it never legally existed, while a divorce ends a marriage that did exist.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
annul a marriage
annul a contract
annul a law
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- annuls
- Past tense
- annulled
Etymology
From Old French anuler, from Latin annullo, "to bring to nothing" — from ad- ("to") plus nullus ("none").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “annul” mean?
The word “annul” means to officially declare something invalid or void, as if it never legally existed. In plain terms, to cancel something formally so that, legally, it's treated as if it never happened.
How do you pronounce “annul”?
“Annul” is pronounced uh-NUHL (/əˈnʌl/ in IPA).
How do you use “annul” in a sentence?
Here is “annul” used in a sentence: “The court annulled the contract due to fraud.”
What part of speech is “annul”?
“Annul” is a verb.
Where does the word “annul” come from?
The word “annul” comes from Latin. From Old French anuler, from Latin annullo, "to bring to nothing" — from ad- ("to") plus nullus ("none").
