nullify
verb
Did you know?
A legislature may nullify a ban, a law, or a tax by simply passing a new law. Election results can be nullified if a court finds the voting process was improper, and a court ruling can be nullified by a higher court. Even the Supreme Court itself may have its decisions nullified by new laws passed by the Congress—though not if a decision is based on the Constitution. In the years leading up to the American Civil War, Southern states claimed the right to nullify any federal law (such as antislavery laws) that they believed to be unconstitutional, leading to the Nullification Crisis of 1832. Annul is a close synonym of nullify (with the same root), as are abrogate and invalidate.
Synonyms
Examples of nullify in a Sentence
Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 8 Feb. 2025
In practical terms, Donald Trump’s attempt to nullify birthright citizenship by executive decree, which ran into immediate legal trouble last week, is probably the least significant element of his immigration crackdown.
—Jacob Sullum, Orange County Register, 3 Feb. 2025
However, the General Assembly, aided by Jones in his role as state representative, passed a law nullifying the referendum.
—Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025
Griffin’s lawyers have written in a legal brief that if a court grants their requests to nullify the ballots, Griffin will likely be able to overturn his 734-vote loss to Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs.
—Doug Bock Clark, ProPublica, 27 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for nullify 
Dictionary Entries Near nullify
Cite this Entry
“Nullify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nullify. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nullify
verb
Legal Definition
nullify
transitive verb
Share