Violation
/ˌvaɪəˈleɪʃən/
nounB2
Definition
A violation happens when a rule, law, or promise is not respected or is broken. It can refer to many things like breaking traffic laws, rules at work, or agreements between people. It usually has a negative meaning because it shows something wrong or unfair happened.
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See It in Action
Breaking a law or official rule
- •The driver received a fine for a traffic violation.
- •Violations of environmental laws can lead to heavy penalties.
- •The company was punished for safety violations.
Breaking a promise, agreement, or personal rights
- •His violation of the contract caused the deal to end.
- •Privacy violation happens when someone reads your private messages without permission.
- •The violation of human rights is a serious problem worldwide.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'violation' like 'break' (A1 word), but for rules or laws, not objects.
- ✓Picture a red stop sign and a car driving through it—that car is doing a violation.
- ✓It's the feeling when someone does something they should not, like cheating or lying.
- ✓Sounds like 'vi-o-LAY-shun' → Imagine someone laying down a rule, and another person stepping over it.
- ✓Think of a referee in sports calling a violation when a player breaks the game rules.
- ✓NOT like 'accident' (something without intention), a violation usually means someone knowingly breaks a rule.
- ✓NOT like 'mistake' (can be small or accidental), violation often means serious or clear rule-breaking.
- ✓NOT like 'crime' (which is a legal violation), violation can be smaller rule-breaking, like in games or agreements.
Try Other Words
- •Infringement: breaking a law or rule (Use in formal or legal contexts)
- •Breach: breaking a contract or agreement (Use when talking about promises or contracts)
- •Offense: an act that breaks a rule or law (Use for smaller or less serious violations)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "viol-" (from Latin meaning force or injury) + "-ation" (a noun suffix meaning action or process)
- •Etymology: From Latin "violationem," meaning an act of violating or breaking
- •Historical development: Used since the 15th century to describe breaking laws or rules
- •Modern usage: Commonly used in law, sports, agreements, and everyday rules to describe rule-breaking
Reflect & Connect
•How do different types of violations (legal, personal, or social) affect people differently?
•Can a violation sometimes be accidental, or does it always mean someone did something on purpose?
Fill in the blanks
1.The company was fined because of a serious safety violation that ___ the law.
2.When someone commits a violation of privacy, it often causes ___ and distrust.
3.Unlike an accident, a violation usually means the person ___ knew the rule and chose to break it.
4.In sports, a violation often leads to a ___ or penalty against the player or team.
5.A violation of a contract can cause ___ between the parties involved.
6.People report violations of rules to make sure everyone ___ the same laws.
7.If a violation is minor, the punishment might be ___ than for a serious offense.