veto
Americannoun
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vetoes
plural
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the power or right vested in one branch of a government to cancel or postpone the decisions, enactments, etc., of another branch, especially the right of a president, governor, or other chief executive to reject bills passed by the legislature.
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the exercise of this right.
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Also called veto message. a document exercising such right and setting forth the reasons for such action.
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a nonconcurring vote by which one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council can overrule the actions or decisions of the meeting on matters other than procedural.
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an emphatic prohibition of any sort.
verb (used with object)
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vetoes,
present (3rd person singular)
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vetoed,
past participle, past
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vetoing
present participle
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to reject (a proposed bill or enactment) by exercising a veto.
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to prohibit emphatically.
noun
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the power to prevent legislation or action proposed by others; prohibition
the presidential veto
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the exercise of this power
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Also called: veto message. government a document containing the reasons why a chief executive has vetoed a measure
verb
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to refuse consent to (a proposal, esp a government bill)
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to prohibit, ban, or forbid
her parents vetoed her trip
Usage
What does veto mean? A veto is the right of one branch of government to reject or prohibit a decision of another branch. It’s also called veto power. The most well-known type of veto is the ability of the President of the United States to veto legislation that passes both houses of Congress. When a president vetoes legislation, the legislation goes back to Congress, which can override the veto, rewrite the legislation so that the president signs it, or abandon the legislation. A veto is also an instance of this right, as in The president’s veto of the new law was unexpected and shocked Congress. A veto is also the document that spells out a veto and the reasons for it. This document is also called a veto message. Within the United Nations, a veto is a vote by one of the permanent members of the Security Council that differs from the other members’ votes. For example, if four of the five votes is a yay vote, the veto is a nay vote. Outside of politics, a veto is a strong rejection of any sort. For example, you might propose that your family get a dog. If your parents put a veto on your proposal, they reject the idea of getting a dog. To veto is to reject a decision by exercising veto power, as in Maya’s grandmother vetoed the idea of sharing family recipes on social media. Example: Although the president vetoed the bill, there were enough votes in Congress to pass it anyway.
Discover More
Originally intended to prevent Congress from passing unconstitutional laws, the veto is now used by the president as a powerful bargaining tool, especially when his objectives conflict with majority sentiment in Congress. (See also checks and balances.)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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vetosimple
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vetoessimple
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have vetoedperfect
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has vetoedperfect
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am vetoingprogressive
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are vetoingprogressive
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is vetoingprogressive
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have been vetoingperfect progressive
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has been vetoingperfect progressive
Past
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vetoedsimple
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had vetoedperfect
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was vetoingprogressive
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were vetoingprogressive
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had been vetoingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of veto
First recorded in 1620–30, veto is from the Latin word vetō I forbid
Explanation
A veto is a no vote that blocks a decision. The President can veto some bills that pass his desk. A veto is a very official way of saying "No!" Vetoes block or forbid something, and the word is also used more loosely. The President of the United States can veto Senators who oppose his ideas, but if he tries to veto his daughter from joining the swim team, he might encounter his fiercest opponent yet. If you strongly disagree with your friends' choice of a movie, you could say, "I have to veto that." Vetoes vote no.
Vocabulary lists containing veto
U.S. Government Lingo
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Civics I
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Ancient Rome - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
In his veto statement, Landry painted many of the exonerees as “convicted criminals” whose only interest is money.
From Salon ● Aug. 10, 2026
The U.S. government now holds equity in several companies, including Intel, rare-earths supplier MP Materials and, through a single golden share, veto power over U.S.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026
The governor, in his veto message, cited affordability concerns.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026
One obstacle was President Gerald Ford, who initially indicated he would veto Carey’s request for a federal loan that would extend the state’s efforts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
After some wrangling, J. T. promised Venkatesh unfettered access to the gang’s operations as long as J. T. retained veto power over any information that, if published, might prove harmful.
From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt
That will make it possible to identify potential vetoes but not which country blackballed any given candidate.
From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026
“Reforms such as harmonizing VAT rules or establishing a common consolidated corporate tax base remain stuck because of national vetoes, leaving firms to navigate a maze of fragmented tax regimes,” she said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 21, 2025
Several key vetoes he has tried to make have already been overturned by Congress, where he doesn't have a majority.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2025
We try one more look, but she vetoes it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 11, 2025
After Coin vetoes a dinner, entertainment, and alcohol, Plutarch yells, “What’s the point of the propo if no one’s having any fun!”
From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins
As for the paint color, the board vetoed the “ripe currant” color she wanted, saying she could only use earth tones to match with traditional Craftsman colors.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
Maine Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, vetoed a bill earlier this year that would have halted construction of new data centers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
Constitution, a bill becomes law about 10 days after it has been presented to the president, even without a signature, as long as it is not vetoed.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 10, 2026
Four months ago, Polis’ office acknowledged as much, noting how two major disaster relief requests were denied and a bill that would have allowed the state to complete a clean water pipeline project was vetoed.
From Slate ● May 21, 2026
She had wanted to wear her comfy jeans, but both her parents had vetoed that.
From "The Parker Inheritance" by Varian Johnson
This fits his dissembling about his reason for vetoing the tax-credit bill.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 24, 2026
A couple of days later, appearing onstage at the New York Times’ DealBook Summit, Oscar-winning actor Halle Berry took an unexpected and harsh shot at Newsom for vetoing a bill on menopause treatment.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 7, 2025
While vetoing the bill, Walz announced he was commissioning a study of the drivers’ working conditions.
From Slate ● Aug. 6, 2024
It has stopped vetoing condemnatory resolutions at the United Nations.
From BBC ● May 8, 2024
In signing or vetoing bills passed by Congress the president shares in legislation, and is virtually a third house.
From Civil Government in the United States Considered with Some Reference to Its Origins by John Fiske
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
