veto

Veto is defined as to refuse to sign a bill passed by Congress or reject a proposed act.

(verb)

An example of to veto is President George W. Bush refusing to sign the State Children's Health Insurance bill.

See veto in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun pl. vetoes

1. an order prohibiting some proposed or intended act; prohibition, esp. by a person in authority
2. the power to prevent action by such prohibition
the constitutional right or power of a ruler or legislature to reject bills passed by another branch of the government
☆ in the U.S.,
1. the power of the President to refuse to sign a bill passed by Congress, preventing it from becoming law unless it is passed again (with a two-thirds majority) by both houses
2. a similar power held by the governors of states
3. the exercise of this power
☆ a document or message giving the reasons of the executive for rejecting a bill
also veto message
the power of any of the five permanent members of the Security Council of the United Nations to cast a negative vote, affirmative votes of all five being required to take action on other than procedural matters

Origin: L, I forbid < vetare, to forbid

transitive verb vetoed, vetoing

Related Forms:

See veto in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. ve·toes

a. The vested power or constitutional right of one branch or department of government to refuse approval of measures proposed by another department, especially the power of a chief executive to reject a bill passed by the legislature and thus prevent or delay its enactment into law.
b. Exercise of this right.
c. An official document or message from a chief executive stating the reasons for rejection of a bill.
An authoritative prohibition or rejection of a proposed or intended act.

transitive verb ve·toed, ve·to·ing, ve·toes