The word "nullify" is spelled as /ˈnʌlɪfaɪ/, with six letters and two syllables. The first syllable is pronounced with a shortened "u" sound, followed by an "l" sound, and the second syllable is pronounced with a clear "i" sound and a long "a" sound. The word means to make something null or void, particularly in legal or political contexts. It is important to spell this word correctly to ensure clear communication and avoid confusion or misinterpretation.
The term "nullify" refers to an action or process of making something legally or officially ineffective or void. It is commonly used to describe the act of invalidating, canceling, or abolishing the legal or binding force of a contract, agreement, law, rule, or decision. By nullifying something, the legal consequences or obligations typically associated with it cease to exist.
Nullification can occur due to various reasons, such as a change in circumstances, a breach of terms, or a determination of illegality or unconstitutionality. When a court nullifies a law, for instance, it declares it to be invalid and unenforceable. Similarly, an individual may nullify a contract by showing that it was entered into under duress or fraudulent circumstances.
The process of nullification usually involves an authoritative entity, such as a court or legislative body, making a formal declaration or ruling on the issue. This declaration effectively renders the subject matter null and void from the time of nullification forward. The intent behind nullification is to restore the state of affairs to how they were before the nullified action or agreement took place.
Overall, nullify encompasses the act of counteracting or neutralizing the legal effect or validity of something, rendering it legally nonexistent or void. It is an essential concept in law and governance to ensure fairness, legality, and justice for individuals and society as a whole.
To deprive of legal force or efficacy; to render void or invalid.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "nullify" originated from the Latin term "nullificare", which is a combination of the words "nullus" meaning "no" or "not any", and "facere" meaning "to make" or "to do". Thus, "nullificare" means "to make nothing of" or "to render invalid or ineffective". This Latin term eventually made its way into Old French as "nullifier", and later into English as "nullify" in the early 19th century.