violate

1 of 2

verb

vi·​o·​late ˈvī-ə-ˌlāt 

violated; violating

transitive verb

1

: break, disregard

violate the law

2

: to do harm to the person or especially the chastity of

specifically : rape sense 1

3

: to fail to show proper respect for : profane

violate a shrine

4

: interrupt, disturb

… violate the peace of a spring evening.

—Nancy Larter

violative

vī-ə-ˌlā-tiv 

adjective

violator

vī-ə-ˌlā-tər 

noun

violate

2 of 2

adjective

vi·​o·​late ˈvī-ə-lət 

archaic

: subjected to violation

Synonyms of violate

Verb

• break
• breach
• contravene
• offend
• transgress
• ignore
• disobey
• infringe (on or upon)

Examples of violate in a Sentence

Verb

He was arrested for violating his parole.

The company violated its customers' privacy.

She was attacked and violated by an unknown intruder.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The Times sued the Pentagon and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in December, claiming the credentialing policy violates the journalists’ constitutional rights to free speech and due process. —Michael Kunzelman, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2026

Selig has even vowed to defend Kalshi in court in the face of states suing the company for violating state gambling laws. —Bobby Allyn, NPR, 6 Mar. 2026

Peters' lawyers said the judge violated her First Amendment rights by punishing her with a stiff sentence for making claims about election fraud. —Arkansas Online, 6 Mar. 2026

The Washington Post reported in September that a required ICE inspection found conditions at the facility violated at least 60 federal standards for immigration detention, but that report never been released publicly. —ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Latin violatus, past participle of violare, from viol- (as in violentus violent)

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing violate

• break/violate the law

Kids Definition

violate

verb

vi·​o·​late

ˈvī-ə-ˌlāt

violated; violating

1

: to fail to keep or observe : break

violate the law

2

: to do harm or damage to

3

: to treat with great disrespect

violate a house of worship

4

: disturb sense 1a

don't violate their privacy

violator

-ˌlāt-ər

noun

Legal Definition

violate

transitive verb

vi·​o·​late ˈvī-ə-ˌlāt 

violated; violating

: to go against (as a prohibition or principle) : fail to observe or respect

violate a law

civil rights were violated

violate due process

violation

ˌvī-ə-ˈlā-shən 

noun

violative

ˈvī-ə-ˌlā-tiv 

adjective

violator

ˈvī-ə-ˌlā-tər 

noun