null

UK: nʌl | US: nʌl

Definition
  1. adj. having no legal or binding force; invalid

  2. adj. amounting to nothing; absent or nonexistent

  3. n. a zero value or condition; absence of meaningful data

Structure
null <none, from Latin *nullus*>
Etymology

The word "null" originates from the Latin nullus, meaning "not any" or "none," formed from ne- (not) + ullus (any). It entered Middle English via Old French nul, retaining its core sense of negation or absence. In computing and mathematics, "null" evolved to denote a zero value or empty state, reflecting its foundational meaning of "nothingness."

Examples
  1. The contract was declared null and void due to missing signatures.

  2. The experiment yielded null results, surprising the researchers.

  3. In programming, a variable may be assigned a null value.

  4. His contributions to the project were practically null.

  5. The court ruled the agreement null after finding evidence of fraud.