Batal

Batal is a common word in Indonesian and Malay that primarily means canceled, void, or invalid. It is used to describe events, decisions, agreements, or documents that have been annulled or are no longer in effect. In everyday speech one might say, "Pertandingan itu batal" or "Keputusan itu batal," indicating the cancellation or voiding of the item. Grammatically, batal can function as an adjective in sentences such as "Rencana itu batal" and as part of verb phrases, notably the causative verb membatalkan (to cancel) and the passive dibatalkan (has been canceled). The noun pembatalan refers to the act of cancellation.

Related terms include "batalkan" (to cancel something), a verb derived from the same root, and "pembatalan" (cancellation). The word forms a productive stem in Indonesian and Malay for negating or annulling plans, laws, agreements, or events. In usage, "batal" may also appear in phrases indicating that something is nullified or no longer valid or enforceable, particularly in legal or administrative contexts. The antonym is typically something like sah (valid) or berlaku (in effect), depending on the context.

Etymology: The word is widely regarded as related to Malay/Indonesian usage and is commonly connected to the Arabic batil (باطل), meaning void or invalid, with the meaning having broadened in contemporary usage to cover cancellation and nullification.

See also: pembatalan, dibatalkan, membatalkan, batil.