Violence
/ˈvaɪ.(ə.)ləns/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounExtreme force.
nounPhysical action which causes destruction, harm, pain, or suffering.
Sentence Examples
Can you justify the use of violence?
Your words are as good as violence.
Police do not think this killing was a random act of violence.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The peaceful protest was ruined by acts of physical ____ from a few people.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The organization works hard to promote peace and reduce the amount of ____ in many different parts of the world today.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *weyh₁-der. Proto-Indo-European *wéyh₁s Proto-Italic *wīs Latin vīs Latin violēns Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -ia Latin violentiabor. Old French violencebor. Middle English violence English violence Inherited from Middle English violence, borrowed from Old French violence, borrowed from Latin violentia, from violēns (“violent”) + -ia. See violent. Displaced native Old English stræc.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Some others get a rotten wheele, all worne and cast aside,
Which covered round about with strawe, and tow, they closely hide:
And caryed to some mountaines top, being all with fire light,
They hurle it down with violence, when darke appeares the night"
— 1570, Thomas Naogeorgus, translated by Barnabe Googe, The Popish Kingdome:
"Thus Water also, or any other Liquor, included in a convenient vessel, by being warmed, manifestly expands it self with a very great violence:[…]"
— 1665, Robert Hooke, Micrographia:
"A "passenger/goods" cock is provided in each cab, by which, when placed in the "goods" position, the normal proportional brake application is slowed down. This is for use when hauling an unbraked or partially braked train, and prevents the unbraked stock from running into the locomotive or braked portion of the train with violence."
— 1958 September 26, “Swindon's First Main-Line Diesel Locomotive”, in Railway Magazine, page 603:
"There is nothing unique or magical about the Middle East; it shares xenophobias and violences with all the rest of the world!"
— 2003, Diana Abu-Jaber, Arabian Jazz, page 329:
"One particularly damaging, but often ignored, effect of conflict on education is the proliferation of attacks on schools[…]as children, teachers or school buildings become the targets of attacks. Parents fear sending their children to school. Girls are particularly vulnerable to sexual violence."
— 2013 July 19, Mark Tran, “Denied an education by war”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 6, page 1:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The peaceful protest was ruined by acts of physical ____ from a few people.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The organization works hard to promote peace and reduce the amount of ____ in many different parts of the world today.