Nullity

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The state of being null or invalid is often defined legally and mathematically
2. A concept referring to something that lacks existence or effectiveness in various contexts
3. An absence of value or significance, especially in legal or formal settings

Etymology: Nullity arrived in English by way of Middle French "nullité," which in turn came from Medieval Latin "nūllitās," a formation built on the Classical Latin "nūllus," meaning "not any" or "none." The Latin root is itself a compound of "ne" (not) and "ullus" (any), so the word's core idea is a negation of existence. That is why a nullity can mean something that has no legal force or effect, as well as something that is simply worthless. The English word has kept both strands of meaning. In its legal sense, a nullity is a marriage or contract that is treated as though it never existed. In its broader sense, it describes a person or thing of no value or significance, a usage that gives the word its more everyday flavour of emptiness.

Synonyms: invalidity, nothingness, void, ineffectiveness, null

Antonyms: validity, existence, significance, importance, effectiveness