violation
noun
vi·o·la·tion
ˌvī-ə-ˈlā-shən 
a
: infringement, transgression
specifically
: an infringement of the rules in sports that is less serious than a foul and usually involves technicalities of play
b
: an act of irreverence or desecration : profanation
c
Examples of violation in a Sentence
a serious violation of the law
A second violation was called on the basketball player.
He was arrested for violation of his parole.
The group monitors human rights violations.
trying to prevent violation of human rights
Recent Examples on the Web
The post was an apparent violation of Major League Baseball’s social media policy, which prohibits the use of electronic devices during games.
—
Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Civil rights advocates and others have described Trump’s moves as alarming violations of civil rights, including the right to due process.
—Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2025
Put on trial before a military tribunal and found guilty on 474 counts of murder (as well as embezzlement of public funds, material injury, and systematic violations of human rights) was Equatorial Guinea’s first post-independence president, Francisco Macías Nguema.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 18 Apr. 2025
The withholding of files, Tate said, could amount to a Brady violation, referring to the rule that requires prosecutors to disclose material exculpatory information in the government’s possession to the defense.
—Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for violation
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.
Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Civil rights advocates and others have described Trump’s moves as alarming violations of civil rights, including the right to due process.
—Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2025
Put on trial before a military tribunal and found guilty on 474 counts of murder (as well as embezzlement of public funds, material injury, and systematic violations of human rights) was Equatorial Guinea’s first post-independence president, Francisco Macías Nguema.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 18 Apr. 2025
The withholding of files, Tate said, could amount to a Brady violation, referring to the rule that requires prosecutors to disclose material exculpatory information in the government’s possession to the defense.
—Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for violation
Cite this Entry
“Violation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/violation. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
violation
noun
vi·o·la·tion
ˌvī-ə-ˈlā-shən
: an act or an instance of violating : the state of being violated
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share