Main Entry: ¹ve·to

Pronunciation: \ˈvē-(ˌ)tō\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural vetoes

Etymology: Latin, I forbid, from vetare to forbid

Date: 1629

1 : an authoritative prohibition : interdiction
2 a : a power of one department or branch of a government to forbid or prohibit finally or provisionally the carrying out of projects attempted by another department; especially : a power vested in a chief executive to prevent permanently or temporarily the enactment of measures passed by a legislature b (1) : the exercise of such authority (2) : a message communicating the reasons of an executive and especially the president of the United States for vetoing a proposed law