Nullipotent

Origin

Latin roots, nullus("not any") + potent("having power") – literally, “having no power”.

Full definition of nullipotent

Adjective

1. (mathematics, computing) Describing an action which has no side effect. Queries are typically nullipotent: they return useful data, but do not change the data structure queried. Contrast with idempotent.
2. (biology) Incapable of developing into any cell type; compare pluripotent

Usage notes

In computing, contrast with idempotent, meaning that the result of performing an action multiple times is the same as the result of doing it only once (rather than zero times, as is nullipotent).

Related terms

• idempotent
• nullipotence

Coordinate terms

• (computing) idempotent
• (biology) pluripotent