violation

American  

[vahy-uh-ley-shuhn] / ˌvaɪ əˈleɪ ʃən /

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.

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Related Words

See breach.

Other Word Forms

• nonviolation noun
• previolation noun
• reviolation noun
• violational adjective

Etymology

Origin of violation

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

Example Sentences

One of the cases declined for prosecution involved a major car manufacturer, which had reported possible anti-bribery violations to federal investigators involving a foreign subsidiary.

From Salon

Russia's Investigative Committee confirmed the crash and said it had opened an inquiry into a flight safety violation.

From BBC

The government said earlier that this constitutes a violation of the country's sovereignty.

From BBC

It also said that appropriate action will be taken if there were any violations discovered in the probe.

From The Wall Street Journal

“The proposed settlement agreement to exempt only houses of worship and not secular nonprofits would have been unfair and a violation of church-state separation,” she said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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