Annul means to say that something official is not allowed anymore. It is like saying 'This is not real' to a rule or a marriage. It is a very formal word. Most A1 learners use 'stop' or 'cancel' instead. For example, if a king says a wedding is not real, he annuls it.
At the A2 level, you can think of 'annul' as a special way to cancel something official. It is usually used for laws or marriages. If a court annuls a decision, it means the decision is gone and we act like it never happened. It is much more formal than 'cancel'.
B1 learners should recognize 'annul' in legal or historical stories. It means to officially declare that a contract, law, or marriage is invalid. If something is annulled, it has no legal power. It is often used in history books when talking about kings and queens who wanted to end their marriages.
At B2, 'annul' is used to describe the formal invalidation of something. It implies that the thing being annulled was flawed from the start. For example, if an election was not fair, a judge might annul the results. This means the results are deleted and a new election must happen.
C1 students use 'annul' to describe the retroactive invalidation of legal instruments. It is a precise term. To annul a contract is to state that it was never legally binding. It is often contrasted with 'terminate' or 'rescind'. In C1 writing, use it when discussing constitutional law or formal agreements.
For C2 mastery, 'annul' is understood as a declaration of 'voidness ab initio'. It is used in complex legal discourse to signify that a specific act or status is legally non-existent. C2 speakers use it to discuss the nuances of international treaties, ecclesiastical law, and the ontological status of legal decisions that have been overturned.

annual 30秒で

  • To officially declare something void.
  • Commonly used for marriages and contracts.
  • Implies the thing never legally existed.
  • A formal, legal-register verb.

To annul something is to declare it invalid or void from a legal or official standpoint. Unlike a simple cancellation, an annulment often carries the implication that the event or contract in question is treated as though it never occurred in the first place. This is a high-level, formal verb most commonly found in legal, ecclesiastical, and governmental contexts.

Legal Status
The term 'annul' is used when a court or authority finds a fundamental flaw in the creation of a contract or marriage, rendering it 'void ab initio' (void from the beginning).

The high court moved to annul the results of the disputed election due to widespread procedural irregularities.

In the context of marriage, an annulment is distinct from a divorce. While a divorce ends a valid marriage, an annulment declares that a valid marriage never existed. This distinction is crucial in various religious and legal systems. For instance, the Catholic Church provides annulments if certain conditions were not met at the time of the wedding, such as a lack of full consent or the intent to exclude children. Similarly, in contract law, if a party was coerced into signing, a judge might annul the agreement, effectively wiping the slate clean for both parties involved.

Scope of Application
Annulment can apply to laws, treaties, marriages, contracts, and even judicial decisions that were reached through improper means.

Historians often discuss how Henry VIII sought to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon.

Using 'annul' correctly requires an understanding of its formal register. You wouldn't 'annul' a lunch date; you would 'cancel' it. You 'annul' things that have a formal, documented existence. It is almost always used in the passive voice in news reporting (e.g., 'The contract was annulled') or in the active voice when referring to an authority figure like a judge, a king, or a governing body.

Collocation: Courts
The court has the power to annul any legislation that violates the constitution.

The legislative body voted to annul the previous administration's executive orders.

When writing academic or legal papers, 'annul' is preferred over 'void' or 'nullify' when the focus is on the official declaration of invalidity. It suggests a procedural finality. For example, if an election is found to be fraudulent, the results are annulled, necessitating a new vote. In this sense, 'annul' is a transformative verb—it changes the reality of the past by removing its legal weight.

Collocation: Marriages
They sought legal counsel to annul their union after discovering the fraudulent identity of one spouse.

The parliament can annul a treaty if it is found to be detrimental to national sovereignty.

You will primarily encounter 'annul' in three arenas: the courtroom, the halls of government, and historical documentaries. In the news, it appears during political crises—specifically when elections are contested. If a Supreme Court finds that voting machines were tampered with, the headline will likely read: 'Court Annuls Election Results'.

Media Usage
Journalists use 'annul' to convey the gravity of a legal reversal, distinguishing it from a mere policy change.

The international tribunal has the authority to annul the trade agreement.

In historical contexts, 'annul' is famously associated with the English Reformation. The refusal of the Pope to annul Henry VIII's marriage to Catherine of Aragon led to the creation of the Church of England. This historical weight makes the word feel powerful and somewhat archaic, though it remains a standard term in modern family law and corporate litigation.

The most common mistake is confusing 'annul' with 'annual'. While they look similar, 'annual' means 'yearly' and is an adjective, whereas 'annul' is a verb meaning 'to void'. Another frequent error is using 'annul' for informal cancellations. You cannot 'annul' a subscription to a magazine; you 'cancel' it. 'Annul' requires a level of legal or formal authority.

Annul vs. Divorce
Divorce ends a marriage; annulment says it never happened. Confusing these in a legal context can have significant financial implications.

Incorrect: I need to annul my gym membership.

Furthermore, 'annul' is often confused with 'nullify'. While they are synonyms, 'nullify' is broader. You can nullify the effects of a poison, but you wouldn't 'annul' a poison. 'Annul' is strictly for the invalidation of laws, contracts, and formal statuses. Ensure that the object of the verb is something that was officially established.

Several words share a semantic space with 'annul', but each has its own nuance. 'Nullify' is the closest synonym, often used interchangeably in legal contexts, though 'nullify' can also mean to make something lose its value or effect in a general sense. 'Void' is often used as a verb in the phrase 'null and void', meaning to make something legally empty.

Comparison: Rescind
To rescind is to take back an offer or a law. It focuses on the act of withdrawal, whereas annul focuses on the status of invalidity.
Comparison: Abrogate
Abrogate is a very formal term used for the official abolition of a law or right by an authoritative act.

While they might annul the contract, they could also simply choose to renegotiate the terms.

How Formal Is It?

発音ガイド

韻が合う語
dull, gull

難易度

知っておくべき文法

Passive voice construction

Subjunctive mood in formal decrees

レベル別の例文

1

The king wanted to annul the wedding.

The king wanted to say the wedding was not real.

Verb + Object

2

They can annul the rule.

They can stop the rule.

Modal + Verb

1

The constitutional court moved to annul the legislation, citing a violation of fundamental rights.

The court officially made the law void.

Infinitive of purpose

2

Failure to disclose prior debts may provide grounds to annul the merger agreement.

The merger can be made invalid.

Gerund phrase as subject

類義語

nullify invalidate void rescind abrogate quash

反対語

validate ratify uphold

よく使う組み合わせ

annul a marriage
annul a contract
annul an election
annul a law
seek to annul

よく混同される語

annual vs annual

annual vs annulment

annual vs nullify

間違えやすい

annual vs

annual vs

文型パターン

使い方

legal

An annulment is retroactive.

general

It is a very strong word for 'cancel'.

よくある間違い
  • Using 'annul' instead of 'annual'.
  • Using 'annul' for a doctor's appointment.

ヒント

Legal Precision

Use annul specifically for legal invalidation.

暗記しよう

語源

Latin

文化的な背景

Ecclesiastical annulments are common in Canon Law.

Henry VIII's quest for annulment changed European history.

実生活で練習する

実際の使用場面

会話のきっかけ

"Have you ever heard of an election being annulled?"

"What is the difference between divorce and annulment in your country?"

日記のテーマ

Write about a time a rule was annulled.

Discuss the ethical implications of annulling a contract.

よくある質問

2 問

No, annul is formal and often retroactive.

No, you annul a status or a contract.

自分をテスト 180 問

writing

Explain why a court might annul an election.

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speaking

Pronounce 'annulled' correctly.

Read this aloud:

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listening

Listen for the word: 'The treaty was annulled.'

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writing

Use 'annul' in a sentence about a law.

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speaking

Talk about a famous historical annulment.

Read this aloud:

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listening

Identify the context: 'The judge annuls the verdict.'

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writing

Write a sentence with 'annul'.

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speaking

Say: 'The king annuls the law.'

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listening

Which word is used: annul or annual?

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writing

Why would someone annul a contract?

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speaking

Explain 'annul' to a friend.

Read this aloud:

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listening

Listen: 'The election was annulled.'

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writing

Describe an annulled election.

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speaking

Discuss the legal theory of annulment.

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listening

Context: 'The ecclesiastical court annuls...'

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writing

Write a formal notice of annulment.

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speaking

Use 'annul' in a business context.

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listening

What was annulled in the clip?

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writing

Compare annul and divorce.

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speaking

Debate: Should we annul historical debts?

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listening

Listen for 'annul' vs 'nullify'.

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writing

Use 'annul' for a rule.

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speaking

Say 'annulment' three times.

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listening

Which syllable is stressed?

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writing

Discuss the impact of annulling a national election.

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speaking

Explain the difference between void and voidable.

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listening

Identify the tone of 'annul'.

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writing

Write about a king annulling a law.

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speaking

Use 'annul' in a sentence about a contract.

Read this aloud:

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listening

What is the root of annul?

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writing

I ____ the rule.

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speaking

Say 'annul'.

Read this aloud:

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listening

Listen and repeat: annul.

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writing

Describe the process of annulling a law.

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speaking

Discuss: Can a contract be annulled after 10 years?

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listening

Listen for the reason for annulment.

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writing

Write a sentence using 'annulment'.

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speaking

Pronounce 'annulment'.

Read this aloud:

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listening

How many syllables in annulment?

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writing

I want to ____ the rule.

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speaking

Say: 'Annul the contract.'

Read this aloud:

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listening

Listen: 'Annul'.

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writing

Write a sentence about an annulled law.

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speaking

Explain 'void ab initio'.

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listening

Listen for the word 'annulment'.

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writing

The judge ____ the rule.

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speaking

Say: 'The judge annulled it.'

Read this aloud:

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listening

Listen: 'Annulment'.

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writing

I ____ the rule.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

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speaking

Say 'annul'.

Read this aloud:

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listening

Listen: 'Annul'.

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writing

Analyze the consequences of an annulled treaty.

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speaking

Discuss 'annulment' in canon law.

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listening

Listen for the nuance of 'annul'.

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/ 180 correct

Perfect score!

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