nulle

Nulle is the feminine form of the French adjective nul, and it is used in a range of senses that revolve around absence, zero, or low quality. In standard usage it can describe numerical value, lack of importance, or a deficient or disappointing nature in feminine contexts.

Etymology and forms: Nulle derives from the Latin nullus, meaning “none” or “not any.” It agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies, so nulle accompanies feminine nouns such as valeur nulle, importance nulle, or performance nulle, while nul is used with masculine nouns.

Mathematical and technical usage: In mathematics and related fields, nulle often refers to zero. Examples include valeur nulle (zero value), fonction nulle (the function that returns zero for every input), and ensemble nul or ensemble de mesure nulle (an ensemble of measure zero). In computing, phrases like valeur nulle or pointeur nul are used to indicate missing or non-existent data and a null pointer, respectively.

Colloquial and figurative use: In everyday French, nulle can describe something of no value or poor quality—usually in feminine contexts such as une valeur nulle or une importance nulle. It can also appear in expressions indicating absolute negation, such as nulle part, meaning nowhere.

See also: The concept of null in English, the idea of a null or empty set in mathematics (often referred to as the ensemble vide in French), and terms like pointeur nul in programming.