What does invalidity mean?
Invalidity is a formal noun meaning the state or condition of being invalid. It is especially used in law, constitutional procedure, and other formal settings to describe the circumstance in which a contract, document, decision, or act has no legal or valid effect. For example, a court may invalidate a transaction because of the invalidity of its authorization, while a legislative body may debate the invalidity of a proposed law. In general contexts, the word can refer to any serious weakness or defect that prevents something from being accepted as valid. Although the ordinary adjectives “invalid” and “not valid” are more accessible, “invalidity” is useful when the focus is on a specific legal or formal defect rather than on an object’s quality. It is normally uncountable when describing a condition, though the plural “invalidities” can refer to separate instances of invalidity.
nounThe state or condition of being invalid, especially in law or formal procedure. It can also refer to an instance in which something is invalid.
- The state or condition of being invalid, especially in law or formal procedure.
- An instance or instance of invalidity; a defect that makes something invalid.
"The court dismissed the appeal on grounds of invalidity."
"The court found the agreement's invalidity to be a fundamental defect."
"The committee discussed the potential invalidity of the proposed resolution before voting."
Used for separate instances or defects of invalidity; the condition itself is usually uncountable.
"The report identified several invalidities in the election procedure."
Invalidity is the formal name for the moment a document, contract, or decision fails to have legal force.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does invalidity come from?
Invalidity was formed in English by adding the noun-forming suffix “-ity” to “invalid.” The adjective “invalid” ultimately comes through Latin, combining the negative prefix “in-” with Latin validus, meaning “valid” or “sound.” English subsequently developed related forms such as “valid,” “validate,” and “validity” from the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How invalidity is actually used
Most common in legal, constitutional, and formal contexts. It tends to sound more technical and abstract than the everyday expression “being invalid.”