Invalidate

To declare something legally or officially not valid; to nullify, weaken, or refute an argument, statement, or theory. This can involve rendering something ineffective or unacceptable. It's often used when questioning the truthfulness or legitimacy of an item, idea, or process. Essentially, invalidating implies discrediting or removing value from something. The process can be based on evidence, logic, or changes in circumstances. It implies a degree of finality, with the invalidated item no longer being considered valid or in force. The purpose of invalidation is to remove the validity of something, usually due to some sort of conflict, either now or in the future.

Invalidate meaning with examples

• The defense attorney presented new evidence that helped invalidate the witness's testimony, pointing out inconsistencies in their story. This successfully cast doubt on their credibility. As a result, the jury struggled to rely on the testimony. The new evidence cast significant doubt, leading to the legal team questioning the outcome of the previous ruling.
• The company's faulty testing procedures were exposed, allowing regulators to invalidate the safety certifications of their products. This caused widespread recalls. The flaws in the initial data made it difficult for the products to meet standards, meaning these results had to be overturned. As a consequence, the corporation faced enormous financial and reputational costs.
• A scientific study was found to contain serious methodological flaws, causing the scientific community to invalidate its conclusions. The peer review uncovered severe biases in the process. Researchers had relied on these findings, but were forced to reassess. Therefore, there was considerable uncertainty about previously believed information.
• The government moved to invalidate the election results after discovering widespread voter fraud, demanding a recount. This decision generated great debate throughout the land, causing significant unrest. The irregularities were too significant to ignore. The ultimate purpose was to safeguard the legitimacy of democracy by overturning prior claims.
• After discovering that a customer's insurance claim contained fraudulent information, the insurance company decided to invalidate it. This stopped any payment from occurring. The policy clearly specified the conditions of acceptance. This action sent a clear signal to other potential rule breakers, stating the rules were to be upheld.