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
Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 14 Jan. 2026
The cases center on whether those policies violate Title IX and the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause.
—Heather Hunter, The Washington Examiner, 14 Jan. 2026
Additionally, in some cases, public intoxication may also violate local laws, meaning the consequences can extend beyond being denied boarding to involvement from airport security or law enforcement.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2026
Two days later, news of the alleged State Farm scheme broke and five days after that Drummond filed a motion to intervene in the case on the grounds that RICO laws were being violated.
—J.c. Hallman, Oklahoma Watch, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for violate
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Verb
The arguments Tuesday centered around whether barring transgender women and girls from participating in women’s and girls sports violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 14 Jan. 2026
The cases center on whether those policies violate Title IX and the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause.
—Heather Hunter, The Washington Examiner, 14 Jan. 2026
Additionally, in some cases, public intoxication may also violate local laws, meaning the consequences can extend beyond being denied boarding to involvement from airport security or law enforcement.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 13 Jan. 2026
Two days later, news of the alleged State Farm scheme broke and five days after that Drummond filed a motion to intervene in the case on the grounds that RICO laws were being violated.
—J.c. Hallman, Oklahoma Watch, 13 Jan. 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 15 Jan. 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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