(violates, violating, violated)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
If someone violates an agreement, law, or promise, they break it. (FORMAL)
They went to prison because they violated the law...
= break
VERB: V n
• violation (violations)
To deprive the boy of his education is a violation of state law...
He was in violation of his contract.
N-VAR: usu N of n
• violator (violators)
...a government which is a known violator of human rights.
N-COUNT
2.
If you violate someone's privacy or peace, you disturb it. (FORMAL)
These men were violating her family's privacy.
VERB: V n
3.
If someone violates a special place, for example a grave, they damage it or treat it with disrespect.
Detectives are still searching for those who violated the graveyard.
= desecrate
VERB: V n
• violation
The violation of the graves is not the first such incident.
N-UNCOUNT: usu N of n