violate

1 of 3

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 3

adjective

vi·​o·​late ˈvī-ə-lət 

archaic

: subjected to violation

violator

3 of 3

noun

vi·​o·​la·​tor ˈvīəˌlātə(r) 

-ātə-

plural -s

: one that commits a 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 students are challenging those actions in federal court, arguing that FIU's policy – and its application to their silent demonstration – violates their First Amendment rights. — Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026

The indiscriminate nature of the data collection, Garvie says, also raises concerns that the cameras violate the Fourth Amendment, which protects people from being searched unreasonably. — Meg Anderson, NPR, 21 Aug. 2026

As community members organized marches and protests, Abdeen helped bring a class-action lawsuit against the city, arguing that demolishing the neighborhood would violate residents’ civil rights. — Rozina Ali, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026

The litigation relates to a complaint filed by the DOJ in 2024 that accused TikTok and its affiliated entities of violating children’s privacy by illegally gathering their information through the app. — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 21 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

Noun

Middle English, ravisher, from Latin, violator, from violatus (past participle of violare to violate) + -or

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