Definition of invalidate

The word "invalidate" originated in the late 16th century from the Latin word "invalida" meaning "sickly person" or "to make infirm." In medieval times, the term "invalid" referred to a person who was physically or mentally unable to perform tasks that were considered necessary or desirable in society. The word "invalidate" originally meant "to make invalid" or "to render something defective or worthless." It was commonly used in a legal context to describe the act of nullifying or revoking something, such as a contract or a vote. Over time, the meaning of "invalidate" has expanded to include other contexts, such as invalidating arguments or hypotheses in science, philosophy or logic. In modern usage, "invalidate" is often synonymous with words like "disprove," "refute," or "reject" but it carries a slightly different connotation, as it suggests that the original object or concept was once considered valid or authentic, but is now deemed defective or worthless. This distinction emphasizes the idea that the previous status of something is being revoked, rather than simply rejected or disproved.