Word
violation
Phoneticsvi·o·la·tion, stress on the third syllable
US/vaɪəˈɫeɪʃən/
UK/vaɪəlˈeɪʃən/
Definitions
01breaking a rule
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Law Formal
n. an action that breaks a law, rule, or formal agreement.
n. the act of breaking or failing to comply with a law, rule, or formal agreement.
“Parking your car in front of the fire hydrant is a violation of city law.”
“The company faced heavy fines after the audit revealed a clear violation of international safety standards regarding chemical storage.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'of' followed by the rule being broken.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02disrespecting privacy
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. an act that treats someone's private life or space without respect.
n. an infringement or disturbance of a person's right to privacy, peace, or personal boundaries.
“Reading someone's private diary is a serious violation of their trust.”
“The celebrity argued that the drone footage was a gross violation of her privacy and sought a court injunction against the agency.”
Antonyms
03physical assault
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal
n. a very serious and violent attack on a person's body.
n. a physical or sexual assault; often used as a formal or euphemistic term for rape.
“The victim spoke bravely about the violation she suffered during the attack.”
“The legal definition of the crime was expanded to include any form of physical violation committed without the victim's explicit consent.”
Teaching tip
This sense is very sensitive and formal; in everyday conversation, people usually use more specific terms like 'assault'.
04social insult
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Slang · Humorous
n. a funny or mean comment that points out someone's embarrassing mistake.
n. a humorous or mocking observation regarding a person's appearance, behavior, or social failure.
“That haircut is a total violation; you should ask for your money back.”
“The group chat was filled with laughter after Mark posted a photo of his failed attempt at cooking, calling it a violation of Italian culture.”
Usage
Commonly used in the phrase 'that's a violation' to react to an insult or a mistake.
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “violation” in context.
Verb
01. allege a violation of the law
“The prosecutor alleged a violation of the law regarding corporate tax disclosures.”
verb + noun + of + noun
02. constitute a violation
“The judge ruled that the search did not constitute a violation of the defendant's rights.”
verb + noun
03. remedy a violation
“The company was given thirty days to remedy the violation before facing a heavy fine.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. flagrant violation
“The dumping of toxic waste was a flagrant violation of environmental regulations.”
adj + noun
05. gross violation of human rights
“International observers reported a gross violation of human rights in the conflict zone.”
adj + noun + of + noun
06. technical violation
“Although it was only a technical violation of the contract, the partnership was dissolved.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. violation of privacy
“Many citizens felt that the new surveillance cameras were a direct violation of privacy.”
noun + of + noun
Preposition
08. in violation of
“The factory was operating in violation of local safety codes for several years.”
prep + noun + prep
09. violation of fundamental
10. violations of federal
Real-World Examples
“The feature in part addresses years of reports that the company’s system had been used to target immigrants or people seeking out-of-state abortions, at times in violation of state or local laws.” “The platform faces potential fines of up to 50m reais ($9.67m) per violation.” “Most of the airspace violations came from drones, though helicopters and fighter jets were also involved, UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said.” “Cait screams abuse at teachers and other parents for what she sees as their violation of Jamie’s norms and boundaries.” Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French violation, from Latin violātiō (“injury, profanation”), from violō (“I treat with violence; I maltreat; I violate, defile, profane”). Morphologically violate + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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