veto

American  

[vee-toh] / ˈvi toʊ /

noun

vetoes plural

1. 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.

2. the exercise of this right.

3. Also called veto message.  a document exercising such right and setting forth the reasons for such action.

4. 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.

5. an emphatic prohibition of any sort.

6. pocket veto.

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verb (used with object)

vetoed, vetoing

1. to reject (a proposed bill or enactment) by exercising a veto.

2. to prohibit emphatically.

veto British  

/ ˈviːtəʊ /

noun

1. the power to prevent legislation or action proposed by others; prohibition

   the presidential veto

2. the exercise of this power

3. Also called: veto message.  government a document containing the reasons why a chief executive has vetoed a measure

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verb

1. to refuse consent to (a proposal, esp a government bill)

2. to prohibit, ban, or forbid

   her parents vetoed her trip

veto ¹ Cultural  

1. A vote that blocks a decision. In the United Nations, for example, each of the five permanent members of the Security Council has the power of veto.

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veto ² Cultural  

1. The power of a president or governor to reject a bill proposed by a legislature by refusing to sign it into law. The president or governor actually writes the word veto (Latin for “I forbid”) on the bill and sends it back to the legislature with a statement of his or her objections. The legislature may choose to comply by withdrawing or revising the bill, or it can override the veto and pass the law, by a two-thirds vote in each house.

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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

• preveto
  noun
• reveto
  verb (used with object)
• unvetoed
  adjective
• vetoer
  noun
• vetoless
  adjective

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.

Example Sentences

The governor veto only applies to the emergency release period and not the statutory automatic release point.

From BBC • May 4, 2026

The Department of Defense accused Anthropic of trying to “seize veto power” over military decisions, though the company pushed back against that characterization.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

But lawmakers on Thursday overrode his veto of a law changing how prison sentences are calculated.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

Orbán said repeatedly that he would veto the loan until the pipeline was fixed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

In Livermore’s organizational chart, Teller would be designated as one of several members of the Scientific Steering Committee, but in recognition of his “obvious special status,” he was awarded veto power over the committee’s decisions.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Related Words

• deny
• refuse
• reject
• rule out
• turn down