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

A statement released on Saturday said a planned attack against Palestinians would be a "direct and grave" violation of the ceasefire agreement and "undermine the significant progress achieved through mediation efforts".

Read more on BBC

Just Finance International, a development finance watchdog, has repeatedly flagged "a pattern of rights violations linked to the Mandalika project" in recent years.

Read more on BBC

The US State Department on Saturday said it had "credible reports" that Palestinian armed group Hamas was planning an imminent attack against civilians in Gaza, a move Washington said would be a "ceasefire violation."

Read more on Barron's

They clapped through one turnover after another, through bad passes and a traveling violation and a player stepping out of bounds and some sloppy ballhandling in the backcourt.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“It’s been just a big bureaucratic slog,” said Chauncee Smith, of Catalyst California, which is part of a broader coalition of reform advocacy groups pushing for an end to all equipment and moving violation stops.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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