Violate: meaning, definitions and examples

Use this word when someone disrespects or acts against a rule, law, or personal boundary very seriously.

• He was accused of violating international law.

Use this word in informal contexts when referring to not following a rule or law.

• She broke the speed limit while driving.

Use this word in formal contexts when referring to the act of limiting someone's rights or freedoms.

• The new law infringes on our right to privacy.

Use this word when someone does not follow an order, command, or instruction, typically from an authority figure.

• The soldier was punished for disobeying orders.

Use this word in literary or formal contexts to describe crossing a moral, ethical, or legal boundary.

• He was forgiven for transgressing the community's unwritten rules.

Used when referring to breaking a law, rule, agreement, or right. It often carries a serious and formal tone.

• He was fined because he violated the company's policies.
• The new law is meant to protect citizens' rights and ensure they are not violated.

Best used when someone unwelcome enters a place or situation where they are not wanted. It has a negative connotation.

• Sorry to intrude, but I need to ask you something urgently.
• She felt like she was intruding when she walked into the private meeting.

Appropriate when describing a gradual and often unnoticed invasion or infringement. It is often used in relation to space, time, or rights.

• Over the years, the forest has encroached on the farmland.
• Noise from the construction site is starting to encroach on their living space.

Commonly used when someone enters a place without permission, especially private property. It is often a legal term.

• The sign warned that trespassers would be prosecuted.
• They were caught trespassing on private land.