adj Uncommon

null

nuhl

Null (adj) means having no legal or binding force; invalid. Example: “The contract was declared null after the fraud came to light.”

adj

Having no legal or binding force; invalid.

"The contract was declared null after the fraud came to light."

Amounting to nothing; nonexistent or without effect.

"His objections were null once the deadline had passed."

noun

In computing, a value representing the absence of any data.

"The field returned null because the user never entered a phone number."

verb

To make void; to cancel out.

"The referee's decision nulled the goal."

How to use null

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishHaving no value or effect — used both for legal matters ("null and void") and for missing data in computing.

Common mistake

In programming, "null" (no value) is not the same as zero or an empty string — mixing these up is a classic source of bugs.

Common pairings

null and void null value null hypothesis

Word forms

more null comparative, nulled past tense, nulls plural, Nulls plural, nulls singular, most null superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

The contract was declared _____ after the fraud came to light.

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French nul, from Latin nullus, "none at all".

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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invalid void nil

Antonyms

antinull non-null

Related words

life nothing none exist empty zero gap valid

Rhymes for null

bull gull dull pull full cull lull mull hull skull scull

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Frequently asked questions

What does “null” mean?

The word “null” means having no legal or binding force; invalid. In plain terms, having no value or effect — used both for legal matters ("null and void") and for missing data in computing.

How do you pronounce “null”?

“Null” is pronounced nuhl (/nʌl/ in IPA).

How do you use “null” in a sentence?

Here is “null” used in a sentence: “The contract was declared null after the fraud came to light.”

What is the opposite of “null”?

The opposite of “null” — its antonyms — are antinull and non-null.

What part of speech is “null”?

Depending on how it is used, “null” can be an adjective, a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “null” come from?

The word “null” comes from Latin. Borrowed from Middle French nul, from Latin nullus, "none at all".

Is “null” a common word?

“Null” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “null” have?

“Null” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: having no legal or binding force; invalid.

What is the difference between null and void?

Null and void are often paired together to mean having no legal or binding force, but null on its own can also mean amounting to nothing or nonexistent in a broader sense, such as in computing. 'Void' more narrowly refers to something being legally invalid.

What does null mean in computing?

In computing, null represents a value that indicates the absence of any data, distinct from zero or an empty string, both of which are actual values. A null value signals that no data exists for that field or variable.

What is the difference between null and zero?

Null represents the absence of any data, while zero is an actual numeric value. In computing, a field can be zero and still contain data, but a null field contains no value at all.

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life nothing none exist empty zero gap valid