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
David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2026
It’s scheduled to hear arguments in May on claims the new districts violate compactness requirements and should be placed on hold pending the potential referendum.
—David A. Lieb, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
Olathe Schools was one of three Kansas City area districts accused by the federal education department’s Student Privacy Policy Office and Office for Civil Rights of having policies that violate Title IX and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
—Kendrick Calfee
may 9, Kansas City Star, 9 May 2026
The three petitions from Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall asked the high court on its emergency docket to allow its 2023 congressional map to take effect and to lift an injunction by a lower court that found the map violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for violate
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Verb
The council also exempted from SB 79 areas that are close to a transit stop but violate the spirit of SB 79 because residents can’t walk to it easily because of barriers like canyons, freeways or a lack of sidewalks.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 May 2026
It’s scheduled to hear arguments in May on claims the new districts violate compactness requirements and should be placed on hold pending the potential referendum.
—David A. Lieb, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
Olathe Schools was one of three Kansas City area districts accused by the federal education department’s Student Privacy Policy Office and Office for Civil Rights of having policies that violate Title IX and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
—Kendrick Calfee
may 9, Kansas City Star, 9 May 2026
The three petitions from Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall asked the high court on its emergency docket to allow its 2023 congressional map to take effect and to lift an injunction by a lower court that found the map violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for violate
Cite this Entry
“Violate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/violate. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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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