line-item veto

noun

: the power of a government executive to veto specific items in an appropriations bill without vetoing the bill altogether

Examples of line-item veto in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That number refers to bills Evers vetoed in their entirety, versus line-item vetoes made to parts of the state budget. Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 31 Dec. 2025 The council approved its $1.5 billion budget and Nygren signed it, but issued line-item vetoes, cutting funding for 28 legislative positions and several other programs. Arlyssa D. Becenti, AZCentral.com, 2 Oct. 2025 The Supreme Court deemed unconstitutional the line-item veto in 1998, by which former President Bill Clinton unilaterally refused to spend money appropriated for particular purposes. Kevin R. Kosar, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025 The next month, Dunleavy used his line-item veto power to slash 3% from the education budget, the largest cut to any department in the state. Emily Schwing, NPR, 1 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for line-item veto

Word History

First Known Use

1979, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of line-item veto was in 1979

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Line-item veto.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/line-item%20veto. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.

Legal Definition

line-item veto

noun
: an executive veto of a specific item in an appropriations bill
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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