invalidate

/ɪnˈvælɪdeɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈvælɪdeɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /(ˌ)in-ˈva-lə-ˌdāt/ (ame, mw)

invalidate — verb

  • invalidatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • invalidateshe / she / it
  • invalidatedpast simple
  • invalidating-ing form

1. to make a ticket, agreement, law, vote, or other official item lose its legal fo

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to make a ticket, agreement, law, vote, or other official item lose its legal force, so it no longer counts or can be used.

例句

Airport staff invalidated Ramón's boarding pass after they found the wrong travel date.

invalidate + official document

The judge invalidated the contract because one page was signed under pressure.

formal legal use: invalidate a contract

同義詞
  • nullify

    very formal and often used for legal results or official actions

  • void

    concise legal term often used for contracts, cheques, or warranties

  • cancel

    broader and more everyday; not always tied to legal force

反義詞
  • validate

    to confirm that something officially meets the required standard

  • uphold

    to keep a ruling, decision, or law in force

文法句型

invalidate + noun phrase (ticket, contract, vote, permit)

be invalidated by + court / rule / official body

用法筆記

Used mainly in legal, official, and administrative settings. The object is usually a document, permit, vote, or rule that an authority can declare no longer valid.

常見錯誤

❌The café invalidated our dinner booking.
✅The café cancelled our dinner booking.
💡Use 'cancel' for ordinary plans; 'invalidate' is much more formal and official.
❌The police invalidated the driver.
✅The police invalidated the driver's licence.
💡The object is the document or legal result, not the person.

2. to show with facts, evidence, or clear reasoning that a claim, theory, or argume

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

to show with facts, evidence, or clear reasoning that a claim, theory, or argument cannot be accepted as true.

例句

New lab data invalidated Liam's theory about how the chemical reacted in heat.

evidence invalidates a theory

The security video invalidated the witness's story about leaving before midnight.

同義詞
  • disprove

    directly means showing something is false by evidence

  • refute

    more argument-focused; often used for claims or positions

  • undermine

    weaker; may weaken support without fully proving it wrong

反義詞
  • support

    to provide reasons or evidence in favor of a claim

  • confirm

    to show that something is true or correct

文法句型

invalidate + noun phrase (claim, theory, argument, assumption)

evidence invalidates + idea / conclusion

用法筆記

This sense is often used in academic, scientific, legal, or analytical writing. The subject is usually evidence, data, reasoning, or new information rather than an authority making an official ruling.

常見錯誤

❌My sister invalidated me when I felt upset.
✅My sister dismissed my feelings when I felt upset.
💡In this sense, 'invalidate' is about proving an idea wrong, not about emotional support.
❌The teacher invalidated to answer the question.
✅The teacher refused to answer the question.
💡'invalidate' takes an object such as a claim, argument, or theory.