violate

[vahy-uh-leyt]

verb (used with object)

violated, violating 

1. to act against (a law, principle, promise, agreement, instruction, etc.); break, transgress, or fail to honor.

   He violated city bylaws by building without a permit.

   I’d stay longer, but I don’t want to violate my curfew.

2. to treat (something precious, sacred, beautiful, etc.) with disrespect or contempt; mar or desecrate.

   They feel compelled to speak out against governments that violate human rights.

3. to break through or into by force or without right, as a border, home, property, restricted space, etc..

   A hostile power has violated our airspace.

   They returned to find that their home had been violated.

4. to break in upon or disturb rudely; interfere thoughtlessly with.

   These surveillance cameras violate my privacy.

5. to molest sexually, especially to rape.

violate

/ ˈvaɪəˌleɪt /

verb

1. to break, disregard, or infringe (a law, agreement, etc)

2. to rape or otherwise sexually assault

3. to disturb rudely or improperly; break in upon

4. to treat irreverently or disrespectfully; outrage

   he violated a sanctuary

5. obsolete,  to mistreat physically

adjective

1. archaic,  violated or dishonoured

Other Word Forms

• violative adjective
• violability noun
• violably adverb
• violable adjective
• violation noun
• violator noun
• violater noun
• previolate verb (used with object)
• reviolate verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of violate¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin violātus “treated with violence,” past participle of violāre “to treat with violence, violate,” apparently derivative of violentus violent ( def. ) (taking viol- as base); -ate ¹ ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of violate¹

C15: from Latin violāre to do violence to, from vīs strength

Example Sentences

Federal judges have ruled in several cases that denying bond violated federal statues and constitutionally protected due process.

From Los Angeles Times

The mortgage agreement for the Arizona property required them to occupy the home as their “principal residence” for at least a year, barring “extenuating circumstances” or the lender allowing them to violate the stipulation.

From Salon

Many of the car workers arrested in a huge US workplace immigration raid had violated their visitor visas, officials say.

From BBC

Each of Monguia’s remarks “constituted an abuse of authority” and violated the judicial rules of conduct, according to the commission’s statement on the findings.

From Los Angeles Times

A federal judge has rejected Newsmax’s lawsuit alleging Fox News violated U.S. antitrust laws by squeezing out rival conservative news networks.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• breach 
• contravene 
• defy 
• disobey 
• disregard 
• disrupt 
• infringe 
• offend 
• oppose 
• tamper with 

When To Use

What else does violate mean?

To violate is to breach some code of conduct, often in an egregious manner. It is often used to describe breaking the law or committing physical violence against another–especially rape and sexual assault. In Black slang, to violate someone is personally insulting or assaulting someone.