violation

[vahy-uh-ley-shuhn]

noun

1. the act of violating.

2. the state of being violated.

3. a breach, infringement, or transgression, as of a law, rule, promise, etc..

   He was fined for a traffic violation.

4. desecration; profanation.

   the violation of a cemetery.

5. sexual molestation, especially rape.

6. a distortion of meaning or fact.

Other Word Forms

• violational adjective
• nonviolation noun
• previolation noun
• reviolation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of violation¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin violātiōn- (stem of violātiō ), equivalent to violāt ( us ) ( violate ) + -iōn- -ion

Synonym Study

See breach.

Example Sentences

But it also warned that violations of international law by one side did not justify the other side doing the same.

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The visit drew sharp condemnation from Syria’s foreign ministry, which called it illegal and a serious violation of the nation’s sovereignty.

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The most concerning violations were linked to barium.

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"First you violate expectations by making something worse, then you compound the injury by revealing the violation was both expensive and avoidable," psychologist and neuroscientist Joel Pearson told the BBC, explaining the public outrage.

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After students set up an encampment that the university deemed in violation of its policies, they were arrested.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• abuse 
• contravention 
• encroachment 
• infraction 
• infringement 
• misdemeanor 
• negligence 
• offense 
• transgression