noun pl. vetoes
- an order prohibiting some proposed or intended act; prohibition, esp. by a person in authority
- 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.,
- 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
- a similar power held by the governors of states
- the exercise of this power
- ☆ a document or message giving the reasons of the executive for rejecting a bill
- 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
- to prevent (a bill) from becoming law by a veto
- to forbid; prohibit; refuse consent to