Nullity: meaning, definitions and examples
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nullity
[ ˈnʌl.ɪ.ti ]
legal term
Nullity refers to a state of being null or invalid, particularly in legal contexts. It is often used to describe a situation where a legal contract, marriage, or act is considered to have never existed or has no legal effect.
Synonyms
invalidity, nonexistence, nullification, voidness
Examples of usage
- The marriage was declared a nullity due to lack of consent.
- The court found the contract to be a nullity.
- In legal terms, this agreement has become a nullity.
- The nullity of the act led to further legal complications.
mathematics
In mathematics, nullity refers to the dimension of the null space of a linear transformation. It is a measure of the extent to which the transformation fails to be injective.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The nullity of the matrix determines its rank.
- Calculating the nullity of the operator is essential for understanding its properties.
- In this case, the nullity was found to be two.
- The relationship between rank and nullity is fundamental in linear algebra.
Etymology
The term 'nullity' originates from the Latin word 'nullitas', which means 'nothingness' or 'invalidity'. The roots can be traced back to 'nullus', meaning 'none' or 'not any'. The concept emerged in various domains, including law and mathematics, where it signifies the absence of validity or effect. In legal contexts, the use of 'nullity' can be traced back to ancient Roman law, which laid the groundwork for modern legal systems. In mathematics, it became relevant during the development of linear algebra in the 19th century, highlighting the need to measure dimensions related to linear transformations. Over time, 'nullity' has come to symbolize the significance of validity, existence, and identity across different fields.