violence

American  

[vahy-uh-luhns] / ˈvaɪ ə ləns /

noun

violence plural

1. swift and intense force.

   the violence of a storm.

   Synonyms:

   fury, impact, power, might

2. rough or injurious physical force, action, or treatment.

   to die by violence.

3. an unjust or unwarranted exertion of force or power, as against rights or laws.

   to take over a government by violence.

4. a violent act or proceeding.

5. rough or immoderate vehemence, as of feeling or language.

   the violence of his hatred.

6. damage through distortion or unwarranted alteration.

   to do editorial violence to a text.

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violence British  

/ ˈvaɪələns /

noun

1. the exercise or an instance of physical force, usually effecting or intended to effect injuries, destruction, etc

2. powerful, untamed, or devastating force

   the violence of the sea

3. great strength of feeling, as in language, etc; fervour

4. an unjust, unwarranted, or unlawful display of force, esp such as tends to overawe or intimidate

5. 1. to inflict harm upon; damage or violate

      they did violence to the prisoners

   2. to distort or twist the sense or intention of

      the reporters did violence to my speech

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• counterviolence
  noun
• self-violence
  noun
• antiviolence
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• violence
  plural

Etymology

Origin of violence

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Latin violentia; see violent, -ence

Explanation

Violence is aggression, usually physical aggression that causes harm. Beating someone up and attacking a defenseless village are both forms of violence. From wars and acts of terrorism to bar brawls, violence is unfortunately very common in the world — and when there's violence, people get hurt. But you'll see a lot of organized violence and acts of aggression in sports: boxing and football are extremely violent, which is why people who play those sports get so many injuries. We can also say that something powerful or wild happens with violence, like a destructive tornado.

Example Sentences

“For domestic violence services as a whole, confidentiality is the pillar that holds us to being able to do what we do,” Nikhita Ved, a director at the National Domestic Violence Hotline, told me.

From Slate • Jun. 15, 2026

Violence in Mexico varies by region, with the worst rates located in states like Sinaloa, Guanajuato, Michoacan -- as well as Jalisco, where its capital of Guadalajara will host four World Cup matches.

From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026

Appeared in the June 3, 2026, print edition as 'In the Middle East, Ceasefires Remain Plagued by Violence'.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2026

"Violence and political killings have no place in a democracy and the guilty must be held accountable at the earliest," the party said, demanding a court-monitored investigation.

From BBC • May 7, 2026

She was an elegant woman, and a political activist in her own right, a founder of Women in Action for the Prevention of Violence, an interracial Durham organization dedicated to working for peaceful integration.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

Related Words

• assault
• attack
• bloodshed
• brutality
• clash
• confusion
• cruelty
• disorder
• disturbance
• fighting
• rampage
• struggle
• terrorism