violation

noun

vi·​o·​la·​tion ˌvī-ə-ˈlā-shən 

: the act of violating : the state of being violated: such as

a

: infringement, transgression

specifically : an infringement of the rules in sports that is less serious than a foul and usually involves technicalities of play

b

: an act of irreverence or desecration : profanation

c

: disturbance, interruption

d

: rape entry 1 sense 1, ravishment

Synonyms of violation

• crime
• sin
• felony
• breach
• trespass

Examples of violation in a Sentence

a serious violation of the law

A second violation was called on the basketball player.

He was arrested for violation of his parole.

The group monitors human rights violations.

trying to prevent violation of human rights

Recent Examples on the Web

Enterprise Mobility told the Tribune it either gives the city the necessary information to ticket the renter or driver directly, or pays the violation and then recovers the cost from the renter. — A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2026

He was paroled in the mid 1970s and was free for another 10 months, but was returned to prison for what is referred to in the record as a technical violation of the conditions of his release. — Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026

The organization Cubalex, which legally advises dissidents and reports human rights violations from outside of the country, filed a habeas corpus petition on his behalf Monday. — ABC News, 18 July 2026

In 2018, immigrants held at a California correctional center sued ICE over religious freedom violations, inadequate conditions, and due-process violations. — Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 18 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing violation

• in violation of
• moving violation

Rhymes for violation

• ablation
• aeration
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation

Kids Definition

violation

noun

vi·​o·​la·​tion ˌvī-ə-ˈlā-shən 

: an act or an instance of violating : the state of being violated