null

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /nʌl/ UK /nʌl/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
having no legal force or value; zero or nonexistent

The contract was declared null after the fraud came to light.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · having no legal force or... void invalid nonexistent zero ineffective nil worthless

Opposites

valid effective existent

Word family

Derived forms nullifynullitynullness

Related forms annul nullify nil

Simplified etymology

Null entered English in the late Middle English period and comes from Latin nullum, meaning “nothing.” The same Latin element appears in late Latin annullare, the source of annul.

Etymology

From Latin nullus ('none, not any'), from ne ('not') + ullus ('any'), the latter a diminutive of unus ('one').

nullus Latin unus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# null

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /nʌl/
**IPA (UK):** /nʌl/

## Meanings
1. having no legal force or value; zero or nonexistent

## Examples
- The contract was declared null after the fraud came to light.

## Synonyms
- void
- invalid
- nonexistent
- zero
- ineffective
- nil
- worthless

## Antonyms
- valid
- effective
- existent

## Derived Forms
- nullify
- nullity
- nullness

## Related Forms
- annul
- nullify
- nil

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: nullus
- Root: unus

## Etymology
From Latin nullus ('none, not any'), from ne ('not') + ullus ('any'), the latter a diminutive of unus ('one').

## AI Etymology
Null comes from Latin nullus ('none, not any'), from ne ('not') + ullus ('any'), the latter a diminutive of unus ('one'). The form is best read as a historical transfer or inheritance, with its older language material carrying the main semantic load. As an adjective and noun, it carries the sense "having no legal force or value; zero or nonexistent", with the older formation still helping explain the modern use. Relevant historical forms include Latin nullus and Latin unus. Derivative forms include nullify, nullity, nullness; related words include annul, nullify, nil.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

markdown