Definition

1. Noun:
   • The state of being legally or officially void; invalidity: "nullity" refers to the condition of having no legal force or effect, often applied to contracts, marriages, or laws.
   • The state of being nothing; nonexistence: "nullity" can describe a complete lack of existence, substance, or significance.
   • A person or thing of no importance or consequence: "nullity" can denote an entity that is utterly without value, effectiveness, or worth.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Legal Invalidity):

  • The court declared the contract a nullity due to fraud.
  • The marriage was annulled and considered a legal nullity.

• Noun (Nonexistence or Insignificance):

  • The philosopher pondered the nullity of space beyond the universe.
  • His promises were revealed to be a complete nullity.

• Noun (Person/Thing of No Value):

  • After the scandal, he was treated as a nullity in political circles.
  • The old regulations are a nullity in the modern digital age.

Advanced Usage

• "To be reduced to nullity": to be made completely insignificant or void.
  • The treaty was reduced to nullity after the war.
• "Absolute nullity": (Legal term) a defect so severe that something is void from the outset, as if it never existed.
  • A contract signed under duress is an absolute nullity.

Variants and Related Words

• Null (adj): having no legal or binding force; invalid.
• Nullify (verb): to make legally null and void; to cancel out.
• Annulment (noun): a legal declaration that a marriage is null and void.

Synonyms

• Invalidity: lack of legal efficacy.
• Voidness: the quality of being completely empty or invalid.
• Nonexistence: the state of not existing.
• Nonentity: a person or thing of no importance.

Antonyms

• Validity: the quality of being legally sound or effective.
• Existence: the state of being real or alive.
• Importance: the quality of being significant or of consequence.

Related Phrases

• Decree of nullity: (Legal phrase) an official order declaring something, especially a marriage, legally invalid.
  • The church granted a decree of nullity.
• Null and void: a common legal phrase meaning completely invalid.
  • The clause was declared null and void.

Noun

1. something that is null (especially an enactment that has no legal validity)
2. the state of nonexistence