vi·o·late
ˈvī-ə-ˌlāt 
violated; violating
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
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
S.e. Jenkins, CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025
When states tried in the 1970s and 1980s to penalize outlets that identified victims using names that had already appeared in court documents or police reports, the court said those punishments violated the First Amendment.
—Stephanie A, The Conversation, 15 Dec. 2025
Elsewhere in Europe, drones spotted near airports have halted flights, NATO airspace has been violated in Poland and Romania, and underwater cables have been disrupted in the Baltic Sea, sparking fears of sabotage.
—Caitlin Danaher, CNN Money, 15 Dec. 2025
The outing violated an Educatioin Ministry order that explicitly bans school excursions and recreational activities in rivers, beaches, lakes and pools.
—Vera Lucia Pappaterra, Miami Herald, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for violate
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Verb
The Lewisville police officer accused of violating a minor late last week has resigned, the department announced Monday night.
—S.e. Jenkins, CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025
When states tried in the 1970s and 1980s to penalize outlets that identified victims using names that had already appeared in court documents or police reports, the court said those punishments violated the First Amendment.
—Stephanie A, The Conversation, 15 Dec. 2025
Elsewhere in Europe, drones spotted near airports have halted flights, NATO airspace has been violated in Poland and Romania, and underwater cables have been disrupted in the Baltic Sea, sparking fears of sabotage.
—Caitlin Danaher, CNN Money, 15 Dec. 2025
The outing violated an Educatioin Ministry order that explicitly bans school excursions and recreational activities in rivers, beaches, lakes and pools.
—Vera Lucia Pappaterra, Miami Herald, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for violate
Cite this Entry
“Violate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/violate. Accessed 16 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal 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
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