violate

American  

[vahy-uh-leyt] / ˈvaɪ əˌleɪt /

verb (used with object)

violated, violating

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. to break in upon or disturb rudely; interfere thoughtlessly with.

   These surveillance cameras violate my privacy.

5. to molest sexually, especially to rape.

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violate British  

/ ˈvaɪəˌleɪt /

verb

1. to break, disregard, or infringe (a law, agreement, etc)

2. to rape or otherwise sexually assault

3. to disturb rudely or improperly; break in upon

4. to treat irreverently or disrespectfully; outrage

   he violated a sanctuary

5. obsolete to mistreat physically

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adjective

1. archaic violated or dishonoured

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

• previolate verb (used with object)
• reviolate verb (used with object)
• violability noun
• violable adjective
• violably adverb
• violater noun
• violation noun
• violative adjective
• violator noun

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.

Example Sentences

These scholars argue that states can authorize lawsuits against federal officials who violate constitutional rights.

From Slate • Apr. 15, 2026

One also questioned whether a blockade, which is enforced militarily, would violate the current ceasefire agreement.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

Depending on how that is interpreted and acted upon, however, could violate international agreements on space exploration.

From Salon • Apr. 9, 2026

Contracts entered into under severe constraint can be voided, as can agreements that violate the principles of freedom, such as selling oneself into slavery.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

These connections, which drape themselves from the limbs of one tree to the limbs of another, violate the neatly nested, branch-within-branch geometry of a tree.2 I’ll call them arcs of coherence.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

Related Words

• breach
• contravene
• defy
• disobey
• disregard
• disrupt
• infringe
• offend
• oppose
• tamper with