annulment
C1Formal / Legal
Definition
Meaning
The formal declaration by an authority (e.g., a court) that something, especially a marriage or a law, is invalid and has no legal effect, making it void from the beginning.
The act of officially cancelling, terminating, or rendering null and void any contract, decision, ruling, or agreement, with the implication of erasing its existence or effects as if it never happened.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a formal, legal procedure resulting in an official decree. Differs from 'divorce' in that an annulled marriage is declared never to have existed legally, whereas divorce ends a valid marriage. Can be used metaphorically in non-legal contexts (e.g., 'the annulment of his efforts').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core legal meaning. The procedure and specific grounds for marriage annulment may vary by jurisdiction.
Connotations
Equally formal and legal in both varieties.
Frequency
Comparatively low frequency in both, primarily used in legal, religious, and formal administrative contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
annulment of + [NOUN PHRASE]annulment + [BY AUTHORITY]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Null and void (a common legal phrase related to the result of an annulment)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The annulment of the merger contract was a major setback for the company.
Academic
The philosopher argued for the annulment of traditional categories.
Everyday
They had to seek an annulment because the marriage was never legally valid.
Technical
The tribunal ordered the annulment of the arbitration award due to procedural irregularities.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The court can annul a marriage if it was not consummated.
- They sought to have the contract annulled.
American English
- The governor moved to annul the controversial regulation.
- The board voted to annul the previous decision.
adverb
British English
- (Not commonly used; 'annulling' is the gerund/adjective) The judge spoke annullingly of the original verdict.
American English
- (Not commonly used; 'annullable' is the related adjective) The clause was annullable under certain conditions.
adjective
British English
- The annulment proceedings were lengthy.
- He received the annulment decree in the post.
American English
- The annulment process varies by state.
- She hired an attorney for the annulment case.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The couple wanted an annulment, not a divorce.
- The annulment was granted by the court last week.
- After discovering the legal technicality, they petitioned for an annulment of their marriage.
- The annulment of the treaty led to renewed tensions between the countries.
- Grounds for annulment typically include fraud, bigamy, or lack of capacity to consent.
- The constitutional court's annulment of the electoral law precipitated a political crisis.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of ANNULLMENT as making something ANNULL (zero), wiping it out to nothing.
Conceptual Metaphor
ERASING / WIPING CLEAN (Treating a legal act as if it were written in ink and then completely erased).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не смешивать с 'расторжение' (divorce/dissolution). 'Аннулирование' — более точный перевод, но подразумевает именно признание недействительным с самого начала, а не просто прекращение действия.
- В русском 'аннулирование' может использоваться шире (аннулирование билета), в английском 'annulment' чаще для серьёзных юридических актов.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'annulment' interchangeably with 'divorce' in casual speech.
- Incorrect spelling: 'anulment', 'annullment'.
- Using it for simple cancellations like appointments (use 'cancellation' instead).
Practice
Quiz
What is the key conceptual difference between an annulment and a divorce?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A divorce ends a legally valid marriage. An annulment is a legal decree that a marriage was never valid from the start (void or voidable).
Yes, in jurisdictions that recognise civil partnerships, they can be annulled on similar grounds to marriage, such as lack of valid consent.
No, it is used for any formal act of making something null and void, such as contracts, laws, elections, or court decisions, though marriage is its most common context.
The stress is on the second syllable: uh-NUL-muhnt. The 'a' is a schwa (/ə/), and the 'u' is like the 'u' in 'hull' (/ʌ/).