What does "violate" mean?

1. (to break a rule or law) to break a law, an agreement, or a formal rule. 2. (to disturb or disrespect) to treat a person, a place, or someone's privacy without respect. 3. (sexual assault) to attack someone sexually.

How do you use "violate"?

Commonly used with objects like 'law', 'treaty', 'rights', or 'policy'.

violate

US //ˈvaɪəɫeɪt// UK //vˈaɪəleɪt// vi·o·late

1 to break a rule or law (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Formal Law

to break a law, an agreement, or a formal rule.

to fail to comply with a law, treaty, or regulation. Transitive — requires a direct object representing the rule being broken.

Example

The company had to pay a fine because they violated safety rules.

Example

The international tribunal determined that the state had violated several articles of the Geneva Convention during the border dispute.

Usage

Commonly used with objects like 'law', 'treaty', 'rights', or 'policy'.
2 to disturb or disrespect (v.)
C1 Advanced Formal

to treat a person, a place, or someone's privacy without respect.

to treat a person, sacred place, or private space with irreverence or without consent.

Example

The loud music violated the peaceful atmosphere of the park.

Example

The protesters felt that the new surveillance cameras violated their right to privacy in public spaces.

Teacher's tip

In modern contexts, this is often used regarding 'privacy' or 'personal space'.
- disturb
- desecrate
- invade
- respect
- honour

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3 sexual assault (v.)
C2 Proficiency Formal Literary

to attack someone sexually.

to commit an act of sexual assault or rape against a person. Highly formal or literary in this specific usage.

Example

The victim spoke out about how she had been violated.

Example

The historical novel depicts the harsh realities of war, including how civilians were often violated by invading forces.

Teacher's tip

This is a very serious and sensitive term; in modern legal English, 'sexual assault' is more common.
- assault
- rape

Etymology 1

From Middle English violaten (“to defile, render impure”), from violat(e) (“defiled, desecrated”, also used as the past participle of violaten) + -en, borrowed from Latin violātus, perfect passive participle of violō (“to treat with violence (whether bodily or mental)”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix). Ultimately from vīs (“strength, power, force, violence”).

Etymology 2

From Middle English violat, from Classical Latin violātus.