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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Violate Definition, Examples & Common Usage (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：break a rule or law (violate)

violate 🔊

/ˈvaɪəleɪt/

vt.

to break a rule, law, or agreement.

Police officer giving ticket for violating speed limit

break a rule or law 🔊

➕

/breɪk ə ruːl ɔːr lɔː/

vt.

To act against a formal rule, law, or agreement, often resulting in penalties or legal consequences.

📁 Category：Laws & Regulations 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'violare' (to use force) + -ate; from 'vis' (strength).

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine 'Vee-O-Late' as 'Violent + Late' — arriving late with force to break a rule or invade privacy.

📖 Example

His company was found to violate environmental protection laws by dumping waste into the river. 🔊 His company was found to violate environmental protection laws by dumping waste into the river.

🔗 Collocations

violate a law – to break a legal rule

violate an agreement – to fail to honor a contract or pact

violate regulations – to go against official rules

🔄 Synonyms

break (v.) – to fail to observe a rule or law

breach (v.) – to break a law, agreement, or promise

infringe (v.) – to actively break a law or right

🚫 Antonyms

obey (v.) – to comply with a rule or law

comply (v.) – to act according to a rule or order

uphold (v.) – to maintain a law or standard

🌱 Derivatives

violation (n.) – the act of breaking a rule or law

violator (n.) – a person who breaks a rule or law

violative (adj.) – tending to violate or break rules

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Latin 'violare' meaning 'to use force or injure,' linked to 'vis' (strength). In Roman law, it described physical assault; today it extends to breaking rules or invading rights.

Meaning 2：invade privacy (violate)

violate 🔊

/ˈvaɪəleɪt/

vt.

to fail to respect someone's rights, privacy, or personal space.

Hand reaching over fence violating neighbor's privacy

invade privacy 🔊

➕

/ɪnˈveɪd ˈprɪvəsi/

vt.

To fail to respect someone's personal rights, private space, or boundaries, causing discomfort or harm.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

Reading someone's diary without permission is a clear way to violate their privacy. 🔊 Reading someone's diary without permission is a clear way to violate their privacy.

🔗 Collocations

violate privacy – to intrude into someone's private life without consent

violate rights – to infringe on someone's legal or moral entitlements

violate trust – to break the confidence someone placed in you

🔄 Synonyms

invade (v.) – to enter a place or situation where you are not wanted

intrude (v.) – to go into a place or situation without being invited

trespass (v.) – to enter someone's land or property without permission

🚫 Antonyms

respect (v.) – to treat someone's rights and privacy with consideration

honor (v.) – to keep a promise or respect someone's wishes

defend (v.) – to protect someone's rights or space from violation

🌱 Derivatives

violation (n.) – the act of invading someone's privacy or rights

violator (n.) – a person who intrudes upon someone's private space

violative (adj.) – tending to invade privacy or disrespect boundaries