Have you ever heard the word “null” and been confused? Is it a noun or adjective? What exactly does it mean? In what context do you use it? If you have questions about “null”, keep reading to find out everything you need to know about the word!
Null Meaning
Null has several meanings, as it can be both a noun and an adjective.
- If it is used as a noun, it is typically in the context of literature, electronics, or coding. It means zero or nothing.
- If it is used as an adjective, null means invalid or empty. If you use “null” as an adjective, you are probably describing something in math or law, especially with contracts. You can also use null to mean dull or unexciting. Most of the time, null is used as an adjective.
Examples
The following are uses of the word null.
- The business contract that they signed was declared null by the court.
- The answer to the math equation is null.
- I didn’t know they could deem the law null. I thought that was impossible!
- His null life was nothing to be envious of.
Dialogue
A: Hey, will you read this contract for me? I want to get your opinion on it.
B: Sure, no problem. Send it over.
A: Done. What do you think?
B: Are you sure you sent the right version of this contract to me? This one has been nullified.
A: Really? How do you know?
B: The word NULL is written at the bottom of page 2.
A: Oh, got it. I didn’t know there was a null version of the contract. Here’s the updated one.
B: Perfect, thanks! This one doesn’t look null to me!
Related forms of Null
Nullify (verb): to make or render null
Nullified (verb or adjective): the past tense of nullify (verb) or something that has been made null (adjective)
Collocations with Null
Null and void
something that is completely useless and invalid, or something that has been canceled.
While null by itself has this meaning already, describing something as “null and void” means that there is no hope for it anymore.
Null and void typically refers to something in the field of law; this can include laws/bills, contracts, agreements, guarantees, and arrangements.
- The business owner’s will is null and void because it was unsigned.
Related phrasal verbs with Null
When you want to use null as an adjective, try to use one of these verbs. While some other verbs can go with null, these are the most commonly used.
Render null
to make null, the subject (actor) can be a person or a thing
- The new law made our previous efforts null.
Declare null
to say that something is null, the subject (actor) is usually a person, usually in a bold statement
- The boss was so angry that he declared our employment contract null.
Become null
to go from something valid to something invalid, regardless of the reason
- Our agreement will become null after the work is finished.
Deem null
to say that something is null, the subject (actor) is usually a person; this is used in the same way as “declare null” but may not be a result of a passionate action
- After reviewing the data that our company presented, he had no choice to deem the previous award null.
Synonyms
Meaning Invalid: Ineffective, Unsanctioned, Unusable
Meaning Nothing: Empty, Goose egg (idiom): absolutely nothing
Meaning Dull: Lacking color, Expressionless, Unexciting
More for you:
Null and Void
English Vocabulary Dictionary
Other words starting with N
Most Important Contract Words with Examples
