violate
Americanverb (used with object)
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violates,
present (3rd person singular)
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violated,
past participle, past
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violating
present participle
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to act against (a law, principle, promise, agreement, instruction, etc.); break, transgress, or fail to honor.
He violated city bylaws by building without a permit.
I’d stay longer, but I don’t want to violate my curfew.
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to treat (something precious, sacred, beautiful, etc.) with disrespect or contempt; mar or desecrate.
They feel compelled to speak out against governments that violate human rights.
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to break through or into by force or without right, as a border, home, property, restricted space, etc..
A hostile power has violated our airspace.
They returned to find that their home had been violated.
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to break in upon or disturb rudely; interfere thoughtlessly with.
These surveillance cameras violate my privacy.
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to molest sexually, especially to rape.
verb
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to break, disregard, or infringe (a law, agreement, etc)
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to rape or otherwise sexually assault
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to disturb rudely or improperly; break in upon
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to treat irreverently or disrespectfully; outrage
he violated a sanctuary
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obsolete to mistreat physically
adjective
Usage
What else does violate mean? To violate is to breach some code of conduct, often in an egregious manner. It is often used to describe breaking the law or committing physical violence against another–especially rape and sexual assault. In Black slang, to violate someone is personally insulting or assaulting someone.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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violabilitynoun
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violaternoun
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violationnoun
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violatornoun
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previolateverb (used with object)
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reviolateverb (used with object)
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violableadjective
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violativeadjective
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violablyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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violatesimple
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violatessimple
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have violatedperfect
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has violatedperfect
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am violatingprogressive
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are violatingprogressive
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is violatingprogressive
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have been violatingperfect progressive
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has been violatingperfect progressive
Past
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violatedsimple
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had violatedperfect
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was violatingprogressive
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were violatingprogressive
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had been violatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of violate
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin violātus “treated with violence,” past participle of violāre “to treat with violence, violate,” apparently derivative of violentus violent ( def. ) (taking viol- as base); see -ate 1 ( def. )
Explanation
Violate is a verb that describes actions that show no respect for people, laws, property, and customs. Drivers violate the law when they fail to stop at red lights, and people violate your privacy when they eavesdrop on your personal conversations. Violate comes from the Latin word violatus which means "to break," as in a promise or oath. As members of our society, we make unspoken promises — to follow all laws, to help people if we can, or at the very least, not hurt them. So when we violate — laws, property, people's abilities to live safe, peaceful lives — we break the promises that come with being lawful citizens.
Vocabulary lists containing violate
"Tinker v. Des Moines": Excerpts from Justice Fortas's Opinion
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Lesson 1
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"Too Young to Drive?" and "Rules of the Road"
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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:
According to interviews and internal emails reviewed by ProPublica, career staffers at the Justice Department warned that transferring voter rolls to HSI to enable it to search for noncitizen voters could violate federal privacy laws.
From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026
In a New York court filing, four groups including Human Rights Watch said the sanctions should be struck down as they violate laws including First Amendment free speech protections.
From Barron's ● Aug. 11, 2026
I should note that Meta has attempted to push back against the “pervert glasses” reputation by banning nonconsensual content from its platforms and creators that violate its policy.
From Slate ● Aug. 5, 2026
The relationship doesn’t violate Gibson Dunn’s policies, according to people familiar with the firm.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
People who violate Japanese law, even unknowingly, may be arrested, imprisoned, and deported.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
Now, there is a question of whether that law violates the Kentucky Constitution, the United States Constitution, or both constitutions.
From Slate ● Aug. 1, 2026
While residents say the screaming is crushingly loud, there’s no indication as of yet the ride violates any county standards.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
Rather than asking whether terraforming violates the laws of physics, researchers believe the more important questions are whether humanity should pursue it and what the safest path would look like.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 17, 2026
Last month, Israel’s High Court ruled that the ban on Red Cross visits to detainees violates international and Israeli law.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026
Hopkins, the Supreme Court had recognized that racially selective enforcement violates equal protection of the laws.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
Qatar's foreign affairs spokesperson Majed Mohammed Al Ansari said contact had been made with the pilots "after they violated Qatari airspace", but it did not receive a response.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation investigated but determined that no hunting laws had been violated, and no charges were filed.
From Salon ● Aug. 8, 2026
In March, the jury found Meta violated the state's Unfair Practices Act by misleading consumers about the safety of its products for children.
From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026
Ms. Williamson filed a complaint with the Connecticut State Board of Labor Relations, alleging the union had violated its duty of fair representation, but the board dismissed it without considering the merits of her claims.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
He had violated no orders, and no one could prove his motive was anything other than protecting his men.
From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson
The lab team also worried about violating longstanding safeguards limiting use of private citizen data.
From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026
Nicholas Bednar and Max Sarinsky, came up with a few solutions that Congress could legislate without violating Slaughter, and I do think it’s worth lifting those up.
From Slate ● Aug. 14, 2026
BAE Systems is set to pay $36 million for violating U.S. export restrictions on military technology.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
The spokesperson also accused the Freedom of the Press Foundation of violating Truth Social's terms of service.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
As Snowden anticipated, American law enforcement agencies were eager to arrest the leaker and haul him home to face charges of violating the Espionage Act.
From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin
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.
