veto

noun

ve·to | \ ˈvē-(ˌ)tō

plural vetoes

Definition of veto

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : an authoritative prohibition : interdiction

2a : 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 U.S. for vetoing a proposed law

veto

verb

vetoed; vetoing

Definition of veto (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to refuse to admit or approve : prohibit also : to refuse assent to (a legislative bill) so as to prevent enactment or cause reconsideration

Other Words from veto Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about veto

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Synonyms & Antonyms for veto

Synonyms: Noun

ban, embargo, interdict, interdiction, prohibition, proscription

Synonyms: Verb

blackball, down, kill, negative, nix, shoot down

Antonyms: Noun

prescription

Antonyms: Verb

confirm, ratify

Examples of veto in a Sentence

Noun

a veto of a bill Are there enough votes in Congress to override the President's veto? The President has the veto over new legislation. The President may choose to exercise his veto.

Verb

The President vetoed the bill. We wanted to do a cross-country trip, but our parents vetoed it. She vetoed several restaurants before we could agree on one.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Democrats are pointing out that Congress had more or less reached a deal to fund the government into February, and then Trump tore it up with his veto threat. — Dylan Scott, Vox, "Why the blame game over the government shutdown is pointless," 21 Dec. 2018 The veto amounted to less than $154,000 out of the state’s $28 billion budget. — Jason Hancock, kansascity, "Hospitals fear Parson budget cut could endanger stroke, heart attack, trauma patients," 13 July 2018 As with the tax bill, lawmakers overrode Bevin's veto of their 2018-20 budget bill but approved some adjustments through HB 265. — Deborah Yetter, The Courier-Journal, "Matt Bevin signs controversial gang bill and vetoes a handful of others on last day to act," 27 Apr. 2018 But Evers’s veto pen is still a huge swing in power toward the Democrats. — Dylan Scott, Vox, "Democratic wins in these 9 states will have seismic policy consequences," 9 Nov. 2018 This was a pointed reminder that at the end of the long, twisting road which in theory leads to an immigration deal in Congress, Trump will be there with his chief immigration adviser Stephen Miller handing him a veto pen. — Ed Kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "At the End of the Immigration Battle in Congress Stands Stephen Miller With a Veto Pen," 29 May 2018 In signing the nearly $137 million measure, the GOP governor also used his powerful veto pen to expand a separate sales tax holiday from one weekend this summer to five days — Aug. 1-5. — Jason Stein, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Sign-up for $100-per-child tax refund begins on May 15 with payments made by August," 17 Apr. 2018 President Richard Nixon, however, went too far: After Congress passed the Federal Water Pollution Act over his veto in 1972, Nixon impounded the $6 billion appropriated for the act. — John Steele Gordon, WSJ, "Why We Have So Many Shutdowns," 16 Jan. 2019 Sam Brownback vetoed it and there weren’t enough votes to override his veto. — Dylan Scott, Vox, "Democratic wins in these 9 states will have seismic policy consequences," 9 Nov. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

There is broad support to help the Syrian people… Russia has vetoed every single one of those resolutions. — Rebecca Hazen, Houston Chronicle, "U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks at University of Houston," 25 May 2018 Bevin had vetoed the original tax measure, House Bill 366, but the legislature overrode Bevin's veto. — Deborah Yetter, The Courier-Journal, "Matt Bevin signs controversial gang bill and vetoes a handful of others on last day to act," 27 Apr. 2018 As a fellow permanent U.N. Security Council member, Russia has vetoed a number of resolutions targeting Assad's government and has accused the insurgents of shelling nearby Damascus city. — Tom O'connor, Newsweek, "Russia Says it Will Attack U.S. Military if Trump Strikes Syria Again," 13 Mar. 2018 Mark Begich never would have vetoed the dividend in the first place. — Author: Charles Wohlforth | Opinion, Anchorage Daily News, "Walker should run as a Democrat or step aside for Begich," 7 Feb. 2018 Trump could not have vetoed a measure that never landed on his desk. — Deroy Murdock, National Review, "The 92 Percent Schumer Shutdown Is Now 100 Percent Kaput," 23 Jan. 2018 The omnibus spending bill Mr. Trump signed Friday afternoon — after threatening to veto it — included provisions to strengthen the background check system and fund DOJ resources for stopping school threats. — Kathryn Watson, CBS News, "How the White House responded to the March for Our Lives rallies," 24 Mar. 2018 Both governors opposed family-leave plans proposed by their legislatures last year, including a bill Mr. Scott vetoed. — Jon Kamp, WSJ, "New Hampshire, Vermont Governors Pitch Two-State, Voluntary Paid Family-Leave Plan," 16 Jan. 2019 Wisconsin governors can veto individual items in the state’s budget, giving them significant influence over the state’s spending priorities. — Dylan Scott, Vox, "Democratic wins in these 9 states will have seismic policy consequences," 9 Nov. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'veto.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near veto

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Last Updated

9 Mar 2019

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The first known use of veto was in 1629

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More Definitions for veto

veto

noun

English Language Learners Definition of veto

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a decision by a person in authority to not allow or approve something (such as a new law)

: the right or power of a person in authority to decide that something (such as a new law) will not be approved

veto

verb

English Language Learners Definition of veto (Entry 2 of 2)

: to reject (a proposed law) officially : to refuse to allow (a bill) to become a law

: to refuse to allow or accept (something, such as a plan or suggestion)

See the full definition for veto in the English Language Learners Dictionary

veto

noun

ve·to | \ ˈvē-tō

plural vetoes

Kids Definition of veto

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : the act of forbidding something by a person in authority

2 : the power of a president, governor, or mayor to prevent something from becoming law

veto

verb

vetoed; vetoing

Kids Definition of veto (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : forbid, prohibit We wanted to stay up, but Dad vetoed the idea.

2 : to prevent from becoming law by use of the power to do so

veto

noun

ve·to | \ ˈvē-tō

plural vetoes

Legal Definition of veto

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : an authoritative prohibition

2a : a power vested in a chief executive to prevent permanently or temporarily the enactment of measures passed by a legislature

b : the exercise of such authority — see also pocket veto — compare legislative veto

veto

transitive verb

vetoed; vetoing

Legal Definition of veto (Entry 2 of 2)

: to refuse to admit or approve specifically : to refuse assent to (a legislative bill) so as to prevent enactment or cause reconsideration — see also override