veto

[ vee-toh ]

noun

, plural ve·toes.

1. the power or right vested in one branch of a government to cancel or postpone the decisions, enactments, etc., of another branch, especially the right of a president, governor, or other chief executive to reject bills passed by the legislature.
2. the exercise of this right.
3. Also called veto message. a document exercising such right and setting forth the reasons for such action.
4. a nonconcurring vote by which one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council can overrule the actions or decisions of the meeting on matters other than procedural.
5. an emphatic prohibition of any sort.
6. pocket veto.

verb (used with object)

, ve·toed, ve·to·ing.

1. to reject (a proposed bill or enactment) by exercising a veto.
2. to prohibit emphatically.

veto

/ ˈviːtəʊ /

noun

1. the power to prevent legislation or action proposed by others; prohibition

   the presidential veto

2. the exercise of this power
3. Also calledveto message government a document containing the reasons why a chief executive has vetoed a measure

verb

1. to refuse consent to (a proposal, esp a government bill)
2. to prohibit, ban, or forbid

   her parents vetoed her trip

veto

¹

1. The power of a president or governor to reject a bill proposed by a legislature by refusing to sign it into law. The president or governor actually writes the word veto ( Latin for “I forbid”) on the bill and sends it back to the legislature with a statement of his or her objections. The legislature may choose to comply by withdrawing or revising the bill, or it can override the veto and pass the law, by a two-thirds vote in each house.

veto

²

1. A vote that blocks a decision. In the United Nations , for example, each of the five permanent members of the Security Council has the power of veto.

Notes

Originally intended to prevent Congress from passing unconstitutional laws, the veto is now used by the president as a powerful bargaining tool, especially when his objectives conflict with majority sentiment in Congress. ( See also checks and balances .)

Derived Forms

• ˈvetoless, adjective
• ˈvetoer, noun

Other Words From

• veto·er noun
• pre·veto noun plural prevetoes verb (used with object) prevetoed prevetoing
• re·veto verb (used with object) revetoed revetoing
• un·vetoed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of veto¹

First recorded in 1620–30, veto is from the Latin word vetō I forbid

Word History and Origins

Origin of veto¹

C17: from Latin: I forbid, from vetāre to forbid

Example Sentences

By 2028, voters will elect a county executive, who will function similar to a mayor, overseeing department heads, drafting the budget and wielding veto power over the board’s policies.

From Los Angeles Times

At the same time, during the presidential debate with Harris, he declined to say “yes” or “no” when asked whether he'd veto such a ban.

From Salon

Later, on his social media platform, he said that he would veto a federal abortion ban if legislation reached his desk.

From Salon

Previously the PM was able to veto investigations by the adviser.

From BBC

Any law we pass has to wait 30 to 60 legislative days to go into effect, for Congress to have the opportunity to veto it.

From Slate

Related Words

• ban
• denial
• embargo
• prohibition