Which term refers to a marriage that has been officially ended as if it had never existed?

The term that refers to a marriage that has been officially ended as if it had never existed is "annulled." An annulment is a legal procedure that declares a marriage null and void, meaning it is treated as though it never happened. This can be based on various grounds such as a lack of consent, failure to fulfill legal requirements, or deception. An annulment differs significantly from a divorce, which recognizes that a marriage occurred but legally dissolves it. Therefore, annulment indicates that the marriage lacks legitimacy from the beginning, unlike divorce, which acknowledges the marriage's existence before its legal dissolution.

Separation refers to couples living apart while still being legally married, and cohabitation describes a relationship where a couple lives together without being married. These terms do not imply that the marriage has been rendered nonexistent, thus confirming that "annulled" is the most appropriate choice.