verb
vacate
To make a legal decision no longer valid.
The appeals court vacates the conviction because of a serious procedural error.
Etymology
The source concerns emptiness or freedom from occupation. Legal usage makes an order empty of force by cancelling its validity.
More examples
- Her attorney asks the judge to vacate the judgment.
- The court vacated its earlier order after reviewing new evidence.
- Vacating the sentence allows the judge to impose a new one.
Forms
vacate · vacates · vacated · vacating