annulment

This term carries a heavy legal weight, implying a total erasure of a previous state rather than a mere termination. While a divorce ends a valid marriage, an annulment asserts that the marriage was never legally valid from the start, effectively wiping the slate clean. In administrative or judicial contexts, it refers to the formal cancellation of a decree or contract. It is characterized by a retrospective effect, meaning the decision is treated as if it had never been made, which differs from a simple repeal or cancellation that only affects future status.