Definition

1. Noun:
   • The act of making something legally void or invalid: An official or legal cancellation that declares something as if it never existed.
   • A formal termination of a legal status or proceeding: Specifically, the legal dissolution of a marriage (a decree of nullity) or the ending of a judicial process.
   • The state of having been canceled or invalidated: The condition resulting from an annulment.

Usage and Examples

• General Legal Cancellation:
  • The court ordered the annulment of the contract due to fraud.
  • They sought an annulment of the unfair regulation.
• Termination of Marriage:
  • She filed for an annulment, claiming the marriage was never valid.
  • The church granted an annulment after a lengthy review.
• State of Being Void:
  • The law's annulment left a gap in the regulations.

Advanced Usage

• "Decree of annulment": The official court order declaring a marriage null and void.
  • The judge issued a decree of annulment, dissolving the union.
• "Retroactive annulment": A cancellation that applies effective from a past date.
  • The retroactive annulment meant the agreement was considered void from the start.

Variants and Related Words

• Annul (verb): To declare invalid.
  • The higher court moved to annul the lower court's ruling.
• Nullity (noun): The state of being legally void; often used interchangeably with 'annulment' in legal contexts.
  • The contract was declared a nullity.

Synonyms

• Abrogation: The repeal or abolition of a law, right, or agreement.
• Invalidation: The action of making something legally null and void.
• Revocation: The official cancellation of a decree, decision, or promise.
• Rescission: The revocation, cancellation, or repeal of a law, order, or agreement.

Related Phrases

• To seek an annulment: To formally apply for a legal declaration of invalidity.
  • He decided to seek an annulment of his marriage.
• Grounds for annulment: The legally acceptable reasons for declaring something invalid.
  • Fraud is common grounds for annulment of a contract.

Idioms and Fixed Expressions

• A marriage annulment: The specific legal process to declare a marriage null.
  • A marriage annulment is different from a divorce, as it treats the marriage as if it never happened.

Noun

1. the act of abrogating; an official or legal cancellation
2. (law) a formal termination (of a relationship or a judicial proceeding etc)
3. the state of being cancelled or annulled