violate

1 of 2

verb

vi·​o·​late ˈvī-ə-ˌlāt 

violated; violating

transitive verb

1

: break, disregard

violate the law

2

: to do harm to the person or especially the chastity of

specifically : rape sense 1

3

: to fail to show proper respect for : profane

violate a shrine

4

: interrupt, disturb

violate the peace of a spring evening

—Nancy Larter

violative

vī-ə-ˌlā-tiv 

adjective

violator

vī-ə-ˌlā-tər 

noun

violate

2 of 2

adjective

vi·​o·​late ˈvī-ə-lət 

archaic

: subjected to violation

Synonyms

Verb

• breach
• break
• contravene
• fracture
• infringe (on or upon)
• offend
• traduce
• transgress

Examples of violate in a Sentence

Verb

He was arrested for violating his parole.

The company violated its customers' privacy.

She was attacked and violated by an unknown intruder.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

In Minnesota, leaders are bracing for the possibility that Trump will pardon Chauvin, who is serving concurrent state and federal prison sentences for murder, violating Floyd's constitutional rights and other crimes. —N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 25 May 2025

The refrigerator was not cold enough and two cats roamed the shop, violating state food code. —Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 24 May 2025

Bukele replaced the attorney general and judges with political loyalists, violating constitutional procedure. —Michael Gregory, The Conversation, 23 May 2025

Anyone who assists is violating their oath of office. —Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Latin violatus, past participle of violare, from viol- (as in violentus violent)

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing violate

• break/violate the law

Kids Definition

violate

verb

vi·​o·​late

ˈvī-ə-ˌlāt

violated; violating

1

: to fail to keep or observe : break

violate the law

2

: to do harm or damage to

3

: to treat with great disrespect

violate a house of worship

4

: disturb sense 1a

don't violate their privacy

violator

-ˌlāt-ər

noun

Legal Definition

violate

transitive verb

vi·​o·​late ˈvī-ə-ˌlāt 

violated; violating

: to go against (as a prohibition or principle) : fail to observe or respect

violate a law

civil rights were violated

violate due process

violation

ˌvī-ə-ˈlā-shən 

noun

violative

ˈvī-ə-ˌlā-tiv 

adjective

violator

ˈvī-ə-ˌlā-tər 

noun