nullity

American  

[nuhl-i-tee] / ˈnʌl ɪ ti /

noun

plural

nullities

1. the state or quality of being null; nothingness; invalidity.

2. something null.

3. something of no legal force or validity.

4. a person of negligible importance.

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nullity British  

/ ˈnʌlɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state of being null

2. a null or legally invalid act or instrument

3. something null, ineffective, characterless, etc

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Etymology

Origin of nullity

From the Medieval Latin word nūllitās, dating back to 1560–70. See null, -ity

Example Sentences

In the process of conversion, however, she’s reduced to a nullity with a grating personal manner.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 14, 2024

So what we're going to do is we're going to say, "That was a nullity, it never happened, we are nullifying her actions and . . ."

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2023

A city that could imagine its own improbable existence into reality could just as easily relegate this now-inconvenient natural feature into a nullity or a comedian’s gag.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 1, 2022

Ecuador’s justice system formally notified the Australian of the nullity of his naturalization in a letter that came in response to a claim filed by the South American country’s Foreign Ministry.

From Washington Times • Jul. 27, 2021

The agreeable nullity of Leon’s life was a polished artifact, its ease deceptive, its limitations achieved by invisible hard work and the accidents of character, none of which she could hope to rival.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan