annul
C1Formal, Legal, Administrative
Definition
Meaning
To officially declare that something (e.g., a law, a marriage, a contract) is no longer valid.
To make something legally or officially void; to reduce something to nothing; to cancel the effect or existence of something.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies an official, legal, or authoritative declaration of invalidity. It suggests erasing the effects of something as if it never existed.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
Equally formal and legalistic in both dialects.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American legal contexts due to the concept of 'annulment' in family law.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] annuls [Object]The court annulled the contract.[Object] be annulled (by [Subject])The marriage was annulled by a judge.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “null and void (closely related phrase often used with 'annul' or 'declare')”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The board voted to annul the merger agreement due to undisclosed liabilities.
Academic
The philosopher argued that new evidence could annul the previously accepted thesis.
Everyday
They had their marriage annulled just six months after the wedding.
Technical
The appellate court has the authority to annul the lower court's ruling.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The court may annul the statutory instrument if it is ultra vires.
- They sought to have the civil partnership annulled.
American English
- She filed a motion to annul the marriage based on fraud.
- The governor can annul a pardon granted by a predecessor.
adverb
British English
- Not commonly used as an adverb.
American English
- Not commonly used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The relevant adjective is 'annullable'.
American English
- The relevant adjective is 'annullable'.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The contract was annulled because of a mistake.
- They wanted to annul their marriage.
- The treaty was annulled by the new government, leading to diplomatic tensions.
- A judge has the power to annul an unfair decision made by a lower authority.
- The legislative body moved swiftly to annul the controversial decree, rendering it null and void ab initio.
- Critics argued that the regulatory agency overstepped its mandate in attempting to annul the independently verified results.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'ANnUL' as making something 'ANnUL and void' – turning it into NOTHING (null).
Conceptual Metaphor
ERASING A RECORD (Treating an event as if it was never written down or existed).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'аннулировать' (to cancel, annul) – this is a correct cognate, but register is much higher in English. Avoid using for simple cancellations like a hotel room; use 'cancel'.
- Do not confuse with 'отменять' which is broader (cancel, revoke, call off). 'Annul' is specifically for making something legally invalid.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'annul' for informal cancellations (e.g., 'I annulled my dinner plans').
- Misspelling as 'annull' (double L is incorrect).
- Confusing with 'annual' (yearly) in pronunciation/writing.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the use of 'annul' MOST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Annul' is a formal, legal term meaning to declare something void as if it never existed. 'Cancel' is general and can be informal; it means to decide that something planned will not happen, but it doesn't erase its past existence.
The noun form is 'annulment' (e.g., 'They sought an annulment of the contract').
Rarely. It is predominantly used in formal, legal, administrative, or religious contexts (e.g., annulling a marriage, a law, or a treaty).
Yes, the past tense and past participle are both 'annulled' (e.g., 'The judge annulled it', 'It was annulled').