What does "veto" mean?
A political right to disapprove of (and thereby stop) the process of a decision, a law etc.
Veto
/ˈviːtəʊ/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A political right to disapprove of (and thereby stop) the process of a decision, a law etc.
- Grammar: veto is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: absolute veto, ban, ban, barrier.
- Useful contrasts: most routine motion, act prep program, agreement.
- Usage evidence: The President vetoed the bill, but Congress overrode his veto.
How to use "veto"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "veto" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "veto" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "veto" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "veto" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "veto" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "absolute veto" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "veto", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A political right to disapprove of (and thereby stop) the process of a decision, a law etc.
- 2 a vote that blocks a decision wordnet
- 3 An invocation of that right.
"I called Haig in and told him that I wanted to veto the agricultural appropriations bill we had discussed in the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, because I did not want Ford to have to do it on his first day as President. Haig brought the veto statement in, and I signed it. It was the last piece of legislation I acted on as President."
- 4 the power or right to prohibit or reject a proposed or intended act (especially the power of a chief executive to reject a bill passed by the legislature) wordnet
- 5 An authoritative prohibition or negative; a forbidding; an interdiction.
"This contemptuous veto of her husband's on any intimacy with her family."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 A technique or mechanism for discarding what would otherwise constitute a false positive in a scientific experiment.
"An outer detector (OD) region will act as both a passive shield for low energy backgrounds and an active veto for cosmic ray muons."
Verb
- 1 To use a veto against. transitive
"The president vetoed the bill."
- 2 command against wordnet
- 3 To countermand. transitive
"Mom and Dad vetoed our menu preferences for the holiday meal."
- 4 vote against; refuse to endorse; refuse to assent wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"The President vetoed the bill, but Congress overrode his veto."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "veto"?
Common synonyms include: absolute veto, ban, ban, barrier, blackball, blackballed.
How do you use "veto" in a sentence?
The President vetoed the bill, but Congress overrode his veto.
How do you pronounce "veto"?
Pronounced /ˈviːtəʊ/.
Etymology
From Latin vetō (“I forbid”).