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 Clarey, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
The Chamber’s lawsuit argues that the administration exceeded its authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act and violated the Administrative Procedure Act by implementing the fee without congressional approval or a public comment period.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Federal agents and agencies face lawsuits, including from a Chicago City Council member following her brief detainment at a hospital, and an ongoing case over accusations that agents have violated limits on how ICE can make arrests without warrants and during traffic stops.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
The petition to the high court asks the justices to determine if firearm laws which that a minimum age of 21 violate the Second Amendment rights of 18-20 year olds, again noting the split between appeals courts on the issue.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 27 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for violate
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Verb
During that time, she was charged three times for violating restraining orders meant to keep her away from Zettel.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
The Chamber’s lawsuit argues that the administration exceeded its authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act and violated the Administrative Procedure Act by implementing the fee without congressional approval or a public comment period.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Federal agents and agencies face lawsuits, including from a Chicago City Council member following her brief detainment at a hospital, and an ongoing case over accusations that agents have violated limits on how ICE can make arrests without warrants and during traffic stops.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
The petition to the high court asks the justices to determine if firearm laws which that a minimum age of 21 violate the Second Amendment rights of 18-20 year olds, again noting the split between appeals courts on the issue.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 27 Oct. 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 31 Oct. 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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