# violation

/vaɪəˈɫeɪʃən/ (US) · /vaɪəlˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/violation
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. breaking a rule

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

an action that breaks a law, rule, or formal agreement.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. disrespecting privacy

noun · CEFR B2

an act that treats someone's private life or space without respect.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. physical assault

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a very serious and violent attack on a person's body.

For teachers: 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'.

### 4. social insult

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · Humorous

a funny or mean comment that points out someone's embarrassing mistake.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- Parking your car here is a violation of the rules.
- The company faced a massive fine after the inspection revealed a serious violation of safety standards.
- The lawyer argued that the warrantless search constituted a clear violation of his client's constitutional rights, rendering the evidence inadmissible in court.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.