nullify

Nullify is a transitive verb meaning to render null and void; to cancel the effect of something; to invalidate, negate, or reverse its legal force. The term derives from the Latin nullus, meaning “none,” with the suffix -fy indicating making or causing. In common usage, to nullify something is to strip it of legal effect or practical force, often by a formal act or ruling.

In legal contexts, nullification occurs when a contract, agreement, or legal action is declared void or unenforceable. A contract may be nullified due to fraud, misrepresentation, illegality, duress, or proper rescission. Government or administrative decisions can be nullified by courts or statutory procedures, cancelling licenses, records, or orders.

In politics and elections, to nullify can mean invalidating votes, results, or mandates, typically through legal challenges or constitutional mechanisms. The related concept of nullification has historical usage in the United States during the Nullification Crisis, and contemporary discussions focus on the tension between state actions and federal authority.

In science and everyday use, to nullify can mean to counteract or cancel out a force or effect, or to make a measurement or result meaningless. In computing and data handling, to nullify a variable or reference is to assign it a null value, effectively removing any meaningful data it previously held.

Overall, nullify conveys removal of validity or effect, whether by law, policy, measurement, or data.