ab initio
/ˌæb ɪˈnɪʃ.i.oʊ/
adverb
  1. (sciences) Calculated from first principles, i.e. from basic laws without any further additional assumptions.
  2. Taken with no prior qualifications.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. More at Wordnik
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Merriam-Webster
merriam-webster.com › dictionary › ab initio
AB INITIO Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
This adverb was adopted at the beginning of the 17th century directly from Latin, where it translates as "from the beginning." (Initio is a form of the noun initium, meaning "beginning," which gave rise to such English words as initial, initiate, and initiative.) Ab initio most frequently appears in legal contexts, but it is not surprising to find it used outside of the courtroom.
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Sklaw
sklaw.au › home › dictionary › void ab initio
Void ab initio - Law Dictionary
March 17, 2023 - Void means without legal effect. Ab initio is a Latin term meaning “from the beginning”. Void ab initio, therefore, means an action that never had legal
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Reverso
dictionary.reverso.net › english-synonyms › void+ab+initio
void ab initio synonym | English synonyms dictionary | Reverso
3 dead, ineffective, ineffectual, inoperative, invalid, nonviable, nugatory, null and void, unenforceable, useless, vain, worthless n · 4 blank, blankness, emptiness, gap, lack, opening, space, vacuity, vacuum, want vb · 5 discharge, drain, eject, eliminate (Physiology) emit, empty, evacuate · 6 abnegate, cancel, invalidate, nullify, rescind Antonyms , adj · 1 abounding, complete, filled, full, occupied, replete, tenanted · English Collins Dictionary - English synonyms & Thesaurus &nbsp
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Cambridge Dictionary
dictionary.cambridge.org › dictionary › english › ab-initio
AB INITIO | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
... This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license. The legal position was that any contract entered into beyond the power, or "ultra vires", would be deemed void "ab initio".
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Free Thesaurus
freethesaurus.com › Ab-initio
Ab-initio synonyms, Ab-initio antonyms - FreeThesaurus.com
Synonyms for Ab-initio in Free Thesaurus. Antonyms for Ab-initio. 7 synonyms for ab initio: from the beginning, from the start, from the first, from scratch, from the word go, from first principles, initially. What are synonyms for Ab-initio?
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Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Ab_initio
Ab initio - Wikipedia
4 days ago - "Void ab initio" is often contrasted with "voidable" in futuro, such documents which become void only as of the date of a certain event or of the judicial declaration to that effect.

Latin term meaning "from the beginning"

Ab initio (/ˌæb ɪˈnɪʃioʊ/ AB in-ISH-ee-oh) is a Latin term meaning "from the beginning" and is derived from the Latin ab ("from") + initio, ablative singular of initium ("beginning"). Ab initio was … Wikipedia
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Law Insider
lawinsider.com › dictionary › void-ab-initio
Void ab initio Definition | Law Insider
July 7, 2025 - Void ab initio means “null from the beginning, as from the first moment when a contract is entered into,” whereas “voidable” means “valid until annulled; especially, (of a contract) capable of being affirmed or rejected at the option ...
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Glosbe
glosbe.com › glosbe dictionary › english-english dictionary › void ab initio - translation in english - english dictionary
void ab initio - English definition, grammar, pronunciation, synonyms and examples | Glosbe
Learn the definition of 'void ab initio'. Check out the pronunciation, synonyms and grammar. Browse the use examples 'void ab initio' in the great English corpus.
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UpCounsel
upcounsel.com › void-ab-initio-agreement
Check out this article...Void Ab Initio Meaning and Its Impact on Contracts
Learn the void ab initio meaning in contract law, its legal consequences, and how it differs from void, voidable, and unenforceable contracts.
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Quora
quora.com › What-is-the-difference-between-a-void-and-a-void-ab-initio-contract-with-an-example-of-each
What is the difference between a void and a void ab initio contract with an example of each? - Quora
Answer (1 of 5): Going in reverse, void ab initio means “void/invalid from the outset,” and refers to an agreement that is has no legal effect from its inception. Examples would include contracts to accomplish illegal goals, such as murder ...
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Quora
quora.com › In-laymans-terms-what-does-a-void-ab-initio-contract-and-voidable-contract-mean
In layman's terms, what does a void ab initio contract and voidable contract mean? - Quora
Answer (1 of 2): Void ab initio legal definition: * A contract that is void ab initio is a contract as if it never existed * A court’s ruling that a contract is void ab initio leads to the nullification of the contract from the day it was formed and not from the date of the court’s ruling * I...
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Publiccontractinginstitute
publiccontractinginstitute.com › void-ab-initio-2
VOID AB INITIO - Public Contracting Institute - Government Contracts Training
This remedy is necessary when a ... contracting practice.” A contract is void ab initio, which is essentially the same as the common law defense of fraud in the inducement, which may be established either by proof of fraud or material misrepresentation....
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Counsel Stack
blog.counselstack.com › void-ab-initio-meaning
Void Ab Initio Meaning
May 5, 2025 - Discover what "void ab initio" means in law, how it differs from void and voidable contracts, and why understanding this concept is crucial for legal professionals and anyone dealing with contracts.
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Cornell Law School
law.cornell.edu › lii › wex › ab initio
ab initio | Wex | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute
Ab initio is a Latin term that means "from the beginning” or “from inception.” Ab initio is used to indicate that some fact existed from the start of a relevant time period.
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Westlaw
content.next.westlaw.com › practical-law › document › I41334c8d07ef11ebbea4f0dc9fb69570 › Void-ab-initio
Void ab initio | Practical Law
Ab initio is usually italicized because it is a Latin term that means from the beginning. Void and void ab initio have the same technical definition, but void ab initio is a stronger term that is less likely to be improperly confused with voidable.
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Reverso
mobile-dictionary.reverso.net › en › english-synonyms › is+void+ab+initio
is void ab initio synonym | English synonyms dictionary | Reverso
3 dead, ineffective, ineffectual, inoperative, invalid, nonviable, nugatory, null and void, unenforceable, useless, vain, worthless n · 4 blank, blankness, emptiness, gap, lack, opening, space, vacuity, vacuum, want vb · 5 discharge, drain, eject, eliminate (Physiology) emit, empty, evacuate ...
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LawBhoomi
lawbhoomi.com › home › void ab initio meaning
Void Ab Initio Meaning
June 5, 2025 - The Latin phrase void ab initio translates directly to “void from the beginning.” In legal terms, it means that the document, act, or agreement in question was never valid, even from the moment it was created or executed.
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Gatekeeper
gatekeeperhq.com › glossary › ab-initio
Ab Initio - Definition
Ab Initio is a Latin phrase, meaning 'from the beginning'. If a contract is "Void Ab Initio", for example, it means it was void from the beginning and cannot be altered.
Published   October 16, 2025