# violate

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈvaɪəˌleɪt/ · frequency rank #10,477

## Definitions
1. To break or disregard (a rule or convention).
2. To rape.
3. To cite (a person) for a parole violation.

## Etymology
From Middle English violaten (“to defile, render impure”), from violat(e) (“defiled, desecrated”, also used as the past participle of violaten) + -en, borrowed from Latin violātus, perfect passive participle of violō (“to treat with violence (whether bodily or mental)”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix). Ultimately from vīs (“strength, power, force, violence”).

## Easily confused with
- **violet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/violate-vs-violet)
- **violated** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/violate-vs-violated)
- **viola** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/viola-vs-violate)
- **village** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/village-vs-violate)
- **vibrate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/vibrate-vs-violate)

## Common misspellings (9)
`ivolate`, `viloate`, `vioalte`, `violaet`, `violatte`, `viollate`, `violtae`, `voilate`, `vviolate`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/violate