violation

[ vahy-uh-ley-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of violating.
2. the state of being violated.
3. a breach, infringement, or transgression, as of a law, rule, promise, etc.:

   He was fined for a traffic violation.

4. desecration; profanation:

   the violation of a cemetery.

5. sexual molestation, especially rape.
6. a distortion of meaning or fact.

Other Words From

• vio·lation·al adjective
• nonvi·o·lation noun
• previ·o·lation noun
• revi·o·lation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of violation¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin violātiōn- (stem of violātiō ), equivalent to violāt ( us ) ( violate ) + -iōn- -ion

Synonym Study

See breach.

Example Sentences

ICE has said that Ibarra was arrested in New York City in September 2023 and was charged with "acting in a manner to injure a child less than 17 and a motor vehicle license violation".

From BBC

Immigrant labor groups anticipate Trump will dissolve a Biden administration program that offers a reprieve to workers in the country illegally who work for companies under investigation for labor violations.

From Los Angeles Times

"Any attack against the peacekeepers is a flagrant violation of international laws and resolution 1701, which forms the basis of Unifil’s current mandate."

From BBC

Police said on Tuesday that the charges had been expanded to include "maltreatment" in close relationships and "another violation" of a restraining order against the same victim.

From BBC

That means there probably is a woman living on your street or in your apartment building or working in the same building you work in who has suffered sexual violation of some kind.

From Salon

Related Words

• abuse
• contravention
• encroachment
• infraction
• infringement
• misdemeanor
• negligence
• offense
• transgression