transitive verb violated, violating
- to break (a law, rule, promise, etc.); fail to keep or observe; infringe on
- to commit a sexual assault on; esp., to rape (a woman)
- to desecrate or profane (something sacred)
- to break in upon; interrupt thoughtlessly; disturb: to violate someone's privacy
- to offend, insult, or outrage: to violate one's sense of decency
Origin:
ME violaten < L violatus, pp. of violare, to use force or violence, akin to vis, force