violation

American  

[vahy-uh-ley-shuhn] / ˌvaɪ əˈleɪ ʃən /

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.

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Related Words

See breach.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of violation

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

Example Sentences

At a press briefing Thursday, a Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman warned against unfounded speculation and referred back to the original announcement of the probe into Zhang’s alleged violations of party discipline and state law.

From The Wall Street Journal

He said his committee subpoenaed all of the files over the summer, and Bondi has yet to comply with that subpoena in violation of the law.

From Los Angeles Times

She has called any prospective U.S. strike on Mexican territory a violation of Mexican sovereignty.

From Los Angeles Times

“These violations are now established as a matter of law,” Young wrote in his 4-page decision.

From Los Angeles Times

By Friday, the government had addressed many of those violations, immigration lawyers said, but warned more cases were still working through the legal system, with few signs from ICE that it could comply more quickly.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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