violating

IPA/ˈvaɪ.ə.leɪt/
KK[vˈaɪəletɪŋ]IPA/ˈvaɪ.ə.leɪt/

violating — verb

  • violatingpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • violatings3rd person singular
  • violatinging-ing form
  • violatingedpast simple

1. to fail to follow or respect a law, rule, agreement, or widely accepted standard

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to fail to follow or respect a law, rule, agreement, or widely accepted standard, often in a way that brings official consequences

Example

Eli violated the county's noise rules by playing drums past eleven at night.

violate + rules / regulations

The shipping firm was investigated for violating international trade sanctions on four continents.

violate + sanctions

Common collocations
  • violate a law
  • violate regulations
  • violate an agreement
  • violate someone's rights
  • violate the constitution
  • violate a principle
  • violate a ceasefire
Synonyms
  • break

    more general and common; 'break a law' is interchangeable but less formal

  • disobey

    implies a direct refusal to follow a command or rule, often from a person in authority

  • infringe

    slightly more formal; often used for rights, patents, or copyright

Antonyms
  • obey

    follow a rule or law as required

  • comply with

    formal; act in accordance with a rule or request

Grammar Patterns

violate + noun (law / rule / agreement / principle / right)

Usage Note

The object is always an abstract thing such as a law, rule, agreement, principle, or right — never a physical object. For breaking a physical object, use 'break' or 'damage'.

Common Mistakes

The worker violated the glass window when he dropped the box.
The worker broke the glass window when he dropped the box.
'violate' is for rules and agreements, not physical objects.
The car violated the speed limit on the highway.
The car exceeded the speed limit on the highway.
'exceed' is the more natural collocation for speed limits.

2. to enter or disturb a space, situation, or personal boundary that is private, pr

2.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to enter or disturb a space, situation, or personal boundary that is private, protected, or sacred, typically without permission or welcome

Example

Ravindra felt that the journalists' drone flying above his garden violated his privacy.

violate + privacy

The protesters were removed after violating the secure perimeter around the courthouse.

violate + secure area / perimeter

Common collocations
  • violate someone's privacy
  • violate a sacred space
  • violate the peace
  • violate a sanctuary
  • violate the atmosphere
  • violate someone's personal space
Synonyms
  • trespass on

    more literal; specifically about entering land or property without permission

  • intrude on

    softer; focuses on disturbing a situation or person's space

  • desecrate

    stronger; used for sacred or holy places and objects

Antonyms
  • respect

    treat a place or person's privacy with proper consideration

Grammar Patterns

violate + noun (privacy / space / sanctuary / atmosphere)

Usage Note

Commonly used with nouns related to personal space, privacy, sanctity, or peace. Unlike sense 1 (BREAK A LAW OR RULE), this sense is about trespassing or disturbing something rather than breaking a written rule.

Common Mistakes

The thieves violated the house and stole the television.
The thieves broke into the house and stole the television.
'violate' in this sense is for places of respect or sanctity, not for ordinary burglary.

3. to force someone into a sexual act without their consent, especially through phy

3.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to force someone into a sexual act without their consent, especially through physical violence or threats; used mainly in formal and legal writing

Example

The human rights report documented cases where soldiers violated detainees during the civil war.

formal / legal context

Ife testified that the senior officer had violated several recruits during the previous year.

legal testimony context

Common collocations
  • violate a woman
  • violate a prisoner
  • be violated by someone
  • accused of violating
Synonyms
  • rape

    the more direct and common term in everyday English

  • sexually assault

    broader legal term that covers various forms of sexual violence

Grammar Patterns

violate + person

be violated (by + agent)

Usage Note

This is a formal or legal term. In everyday conversation, 'rape' or 'sexually assault' are more direct and common. The passive form ('was violated') appears frequently in historical or journalistic writing.

Common Mistakes

The suspect violated the victim in the park.
The suspect raped the victim in the park.
'raped' is the more direct and common word; 'violated' sounds formal or legal and may cause confusion with other senses of the word.

violating — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words describe going against a rule or standard, but they differ in scope and formality. 'Break' is the most common and general — you can break a law, a promise, or a record. 'Disobey' implies a direct refusal to follow an order or command from someone in authority; it sounds less natural for impersonal rules like tax codes. 'Infringe' is more formal and typically used for rights, patents, or copyright — it often suggests a minor or technical breach rather than outright law-breaking. 'Transgress' is literary or religious in tone, describing the crossing of a moral or spiritual boundary. For example: 'The company broke safety regulations.' 'Drivers who disobey traffic signals face fines.' 'The app infringed on users' privacy rights.' 'In the ancient story, the hero transgressed the commands of the gods.'

break ↗disobey ↗infringe ↗transgress ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • in violation of
  • without violating

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word 'violate' comes from the Latin verb 'violare', meaning 'to treat with violence, dishonour, or profane'. It is related to the Latin noun 'vis', meaning 'force, strength, power'. The word entered English through Old French in the 15th century, first carrying the meaning of breaking a law or promise, and later extending to the sense of sexual assault and the intrusion upon sacred or private spaces.

First known use

15th century

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Adjective