adj
Common
violated
VEYE-uh-lay-tihd
Violated (adj) means Broken or disregarded, as of a rule or agreement. Example: “The contract was clearly violated when they missed the deadline.”
adj
1
Broken or disregarded, as of a rule or agreement.
"The contract was clearly violated when they missed the deadline."
2
Feeling that one's privacy, trust, or personal boundaries have been badly intruded upon.
"He felt violated when strangers began sharing his private photos online."
"After the break-in, the family felt violated in their own home."
"She felt violated after discovering someone had read her private messages."
How to use violated
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBroken (for rules), or deeply intruded upon and disrespected (for a person's feelings).
Common pairings
feel violated
clearly violated
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like violated.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- more violated
- Superlative
- most violated
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The contract was clearly _____ when they missed the deadline.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for violated
See all rhymes for violated →Frequently asked questions
What does “violated” mean?
The word “violated” means broken or disregarded, as of a rule or agreement. In plain terms, broken (for rules), or deeply intruded upon and disrespected (for a person's feelings).
How do you pronounce “violated”?
“Violated” is pronounced VEYE-uh-lay-tihd (/ˈvaɪəˌleɪtɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “violated” in a sentence?
Here is “violated” used in a sentence: “The contract was clearly violated when they missed the deadline.”
What is another word for “violated”?
Words with a similar meaning to “violated” include desecrated and defiled.
What part of speech is “violated”?
“Violated” is an adjective.
Is “violated” a common word?
“Violated” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “violated” have?
“Violated” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: broken or disregarded, as of a rule or agreement.
What is the difference between "violated" and "broken" when talking about rules?
Both mean a rule or agreement was not followed, but "violated" is more formal and is common in legal or official contexts (the terms were violated). "Broken" is the more everyday word for the same idea (he broke the rules).
What is the difference between "violated" and "infringed"?
Both mean a rule or right has been breached, but "infringed" is often used for rights, laws, and patents in a fairly technical way. "Violated" is broader and stronger, and can also extend to personal boundaries and trust.
What are common collocations with "violated"?
Common pairings include rights violated, terms violated, trust violated, and privacy violated, along with feeling violated. These reflect both the sense of a rule being broken and of boundaries being intruded upon.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include violated:
