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View synonyms for veto

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.


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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

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

    her parents vetoed her trip

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.
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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 .)
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Derived Forms

  • ˈvetoless, adjective
  • ˈvetoer, noun
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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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of veto1

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

Origin of veto1

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

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

Earlier in the year, Yoon vetoed a bill calling for his wife to be investigated over those allegations.

From BBC

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

From BBC

First of all, Trump lies constantly about everything, so his denials on this front are worth nothing — more important is his unwillingness to commit to vetoing any abortion ban a Republican Congress would pass.

From Salon

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Related Words

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More About Veto

What does veto mean?

A veto is the right of one branch of government to reject or prohibit a decision of another branch. It’s also called veto power.

The most well-known type of veto is the ability of the President of the United States to veto legislation that passes both houses of Congress. When a president vetoes legislation, the legislation goes back to Congress, which can override the veto, rewrite the legislation so that the president signs it, or abandon the legislation.

A veto is also an instance of this right, as in The president’s veto of the new law was unexpected and shocked Congress.

A veto is also the document that spells out a veto and the reasons for it. This document is also called a veto message.

Within the United Nations, a veto is a vote by one of the permanent members of the Security Council that differs from the other members’ votes. For example, if four of the five votes is a yay vote, the veto is a nay vote.

Outside of politics, a veto is a strong rejection of any sort. For example, you might propose that your family get a dog. If your parents put a veto on your proposal, they reject the idea of getting a dog. 

To veto is to reject a decision by exercising veto power, as in Maya’s grandmother vetoed the idea of sharing family recipes on social media.

Example: Although the president vetoed the bill, there were enough votes in Congress to pass it anyway.

Where does veto come from?

The first records of the term veto come from around the 1620s. It comes from the Latin vetō, meaning “I forbid.” The Latin word was used by Roman tribunes of the people to protest any measures of the Senate or magistrates. 

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms of veto?

  • vetoer (noun)
  • preveto (noun)
  • reveto (verb)
  • unvetoed (adjective) 

What are some synonyms for veto?

What are some words that share a root or word element with veto?

What are some words that often get used in discussing veto?

How is veto used in real life?

The word veto is most commonly used in the context of politics, especially in regards to the power of the president to deny legislation. 

 

 

Try using veto!

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of veto?

A. denial
B. approval
C. ban
D. prohibition

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