void

1 of 3

adjective

1
a
: of no legal force or effect : null
a void contract
b
2
: containing nothing
void space
3
a
: not occupied : vacant
a void bishopric
b
: not inhabited : deserted
4
5
a
: being without something specified : devoid
a nature void of all malice
b
: having no members or examples
specifically, of a suit : having no cards represented in a particular hand
6
voidness noun

void

2 of 3

noun

1
a
b
: empty space : emptiness, vacuum
2
: the quality or state of being without something : lack, absence
3
: a feeling of want or hollowness
4
: absence of cards of a particular suit in a hand originally dealt to a player

void

3 of 3

verb

voided; voiding; voids

transitive verb

1
2
a
: to make empty or vacant : clear
b
archaic : vacate, leave
3

intransitive verb

: to eliminate solid or liquid waste from the body
voider noun
Choose the Right Synonym for void

empty, vacant, blank, void, vacuous mean lacking contents which could or should be present.

empty suggests a complete absence of contents.

an empty bucket

vacant suggests an absence of appropriate contents or occupants.

a vacant apartment

blank stresses the absence of any significant, relieving, or intelligible features on a surface.

a blank wall

void suggests absolute emptiness as far as the mind or senses can determine.

a statement void of meaning

vacuous suggests the emptiness of a vacuum and especially the lack of intelligence or significance.

a vacuous facial expression

Examples of void in a Sentence

Adjective This sales offer is void where prohibited by law. an agreement is void if obtained by force Noun the great voids between galaxies a repressed memory that left a huge void in her recollection of her adolescent years Verb The judge voided the contract. Any unauthorized repairs will void the warranty.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
And attorneys are warning that divorce settlements that call for frozen embryos to be destroyed may now be void. Sabrina Malhi, Washington Post, 21 Feb. 2024 The lawsuit, filed Thursday in Broward circuit court, asks the court to declare the resolution approving the developer’s deviations from the city’s downtown master plan as void and unenforceable. Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2024 Zangs, who coached at St. Paul’s Johnson High School for several years before joining the Como Park Cougars, sees a development void in the Midway that will clearly impact the city’s high school teams like his own down the line. Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 3 Feb. 2024 Of the eight people who live on the left side of the duplex, seven were home when the blaze broke out, including an adult sibling who jumped from the second floor to escape the fire — which Roache said was able to spread quickly in an older home with a balloon frame and lots of void spaces. Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 4 Jan. 2024 Other Terms If any provision of these Terms of Service shall be unlawful, void or unenforceable for any reason, the other provisions (and any partially enforceable provision) shall not be affected thereby and shall remain valid and enforceable to the maximum possible extent. Washington Examiner, 15 Dec. 2023 Senate Bill 108 would add language to existing law saying that any ordinance adopted by a consolidated city between Dec. 31, 2022, and July 1, 2023, is void. Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Jan. 2024 This Promotion is void outside the 50 United States and the District of Columbia, and where prohibited. Condé Nast, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2023 While the legal precedents are not perfectly clear, both of those presidents effectively won: the treaties are widely understood to be void. Maggie Haberman, New York Times, 9 Dec. 2023
Noun
While some records have been recovered over the years, the devastating fire left behind a genealogical void that’s stymied many a would-be family history sleuth. Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024 Haiti is the Western Hemisphere's poorest country and armed gangs have filled a power void that followed President Jovenel Moïse's 2021 assassination. Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2024 Big Two team up Frustrated by the NCAA’s inability to succeed in court or produce meaningful change to a broken model, the heavyweight conferences are stepping into the void and consolidating their authority. Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2024 The longest runways and most glittering celebrities can’t fill that void. Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2024 Preparing to step into the void is his widow, Yulia Navalnaya. Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2024 His departure leaves a void in the music world that can never be filled. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Feb. 2024 The problem is that, if legacy automakers don’t get going on cheaper models soon, Chinese vendors will step in and fill the void. James Morris, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024 In New York, the state took years to issue licenses and left a void that spurred an influx of unregulated stores. Haley Bemiller, The Courier-Journal, 23 Feb. 2024
Verb
An Illinois bill would void contracts between libraries and publishers that include certain provisions, such as restricting a library’s right to determine loan periods for licensed electronic material. Susan Haigh, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2024 Provisions of the bill would void local ordinances prohibiting the sale of dogs at pet stores, including those already in place in cities like Carmel, Indianapolis and Columbus. Brittany Carloni, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Feb. 2024 But now, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to send Israeli troops into Rafah, a city in Gaza on the border with Egypt, the Egyptian government is threatening to void the agreement. TIME, 12 Feb. 2024 In making its case to void Grant’s own NDA, the suit acknowledges that other NDAs signed by other women McMahon has attempted to silence may also be unenforceable. Vulture, 25 Jan. 2024 Musk has been feuding with Delaware since a judge in the state’s chancery court voided his $55.8 billion pay package last month, jeopardizing his status as world’s richest man. Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2024 Despite a solid performance, the 49ers keeping Kelce out of the end zone likely voided the tight end's chances at winning Super Bowl MVP. Richard Morin, USA TODAY, 12 Feb. 2024 Snuffing Kansas City’s first drive of the second half, the 6-foot-3 linebacker picked off a seam pass by retreating far and not allowing Mahomes to trick him into voiding his spot. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Feb. 2024 The GOP had asked the court to void the measure as unconstitutional and to allow the party to more easily close its primaries while the lawsuit plays out. Seth Klamann, The Denver Post, 2 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'void.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English voyde, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *vocitus, alteration of Latin vocivus, vacivus empty, from vacare to be empty

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French voider (Old French of Île-de-France vuider) Vulgar Latin *vocitare, from *vocitus

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3a

Noun

1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2a

Time Traveler
The first known use of void was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near void

Cite this Entry

“Void.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/void. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

void

1 of 3 adjective
1
: containing nothing : empty
void space
2
: being without something specified : devoid
a person void of common sense
3
: of no legal force or effect
a void contract

void

2 of 3 noun
1
: empty space
2
: a feeling of want or hollowness

void

3 of 3 verb
: to make void
void a contract

Medical Definition

void

transitive verb
: to discharge or emit
void urine

intransitive verb

: to eliminate solid or liquid waste from the body
frequent voiding

Legal Definition

void

1 of 2 adjective
1
: of no force or effect under law
a void marriage
2
voidness noun

void

2 of 2 transitive verb
: to make or declare void
void a contract

More from Merriam-Webster on void

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