Violate Meaning
/ˈvaɪəˌleɪt/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo break or disregard (a rule or convention).
verbTo rape.
Sentence Examples
Those who violate the rules will be punished.
You must not violate the regulations.
CEFR Practice Quiz
If you break the rule to enter the restricted area, you will ____ the law.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The company was fined for continuing to ____ the environmental rules that were introduced to protect the local river today.
Word Origin & History
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”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"In stark opposition to what CBS editorial leadership told staff on Monday, Redstone said that she did not believe Dokoupil had violated the network’s editorial standards when he grilled Coates over the contents of his new book."
— 2024 October 9, Hadas Gold, Liam Reilly and Brian Stelter, “Shari Redstone says CBS leaders made ‘bad mistake’ with handling of Ta-Nehisi Coates interview fallout”, in CNN:
"That Antonia whom you violated, was your Sister! That Elvira whom you murdered, gave you birth! Tremble, abandoned Hypocrite! Inhuman Parricide! Incestuous Ravisher!"
— 1796, Matthew Gregory Lewis, The Monk:
"Bulgarian soldiers in the meantime entered Turkish houses, violated the women and girls and stole everything they could lay their hands on."
— 1914, “Report of the International Commission to Inquire into the Causes and Conduct of the Balkan Wars”, in Carnegie Report, Washington, DC: The Endowment:
"If you don't have a job, you can't pay the money, then you get violated and have to go back to prison."
— 2009, Shakti Belway, Bearing Witness, page 12:
"Estela: Well, they'd take me to jail, I'd violate, and I go to prison. And maybe I get violated for six months, eight months . . . maybe 30 days, 60 days . . . You know, whatever the parole officer recommended for me, I got."
— 2014, Juanita Díaz-Cotto, Chicana Lives and Criminal Justice: Voices from El Barrio, page 165:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
If you break the rule to enter the restricted area, you will ____ the law.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The company was fined for continuing to ____ the environmental rules that were introduced to protect the local river today.