Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense vetoes, present participle vetoing, past tense, past participle vetoed
1. verb
If someone in authority vetoes something, they forbid it, or stop it being put into action.
They vetoed a draft resolution condemning the violence. [VERB noun]
The Treasury vetoed any economic aid. [VERB noun]
Veto is also a noun.
The veto was a calculated political risk.
2. uncountable noun
Veto is the right that someone in authority has to forbid something.
...the President's power of veto.
Synonyms: ban, dismissal, rejection, vetoing More Synonyms of veto
More Synonyms of veto
veto in British English
(ˈviːtəʊ)
nounWord forms: plural-toes
1.
the power to prevent legislation or action proposed by others; prohibition
the presidential veto
2.
the exercise of this power
3. Also called: veto message US government
a document containing the reasons why a chief executive has vetoed a measure
verbWord forms: -toes, -toing or -toed(transitive)
4.
to refuse consent to (a proposal, esp a government bill)
5.
to prohibit, ban, or forbid
her parents vetoed her trip
Derived forms
vetoer (ˈvetoer)
noun
vetoless (ˈvetoless)
adjective
Word origin
C17: from Latin: I forbid, from vetāre to forbid
veto in American English
(ˈvitoʊ)
nounWord forms: pluralˈvetoes
1.
a.
an order prohibiting some proposed or intended act; prohibition, esp. by a person in authority
b.
the power to prevent action by such prohibition
2.
the constitutional right or power of a ruler or legislature to reject bills passed by another branch of the government
3. US
in the U.S.,
a.
the power of the President to refuse to sign a bill passed by Congress, preventing it from becoming law unless it is passed again (with a two-thirds majority) by both houses
b.
a similar power held by the governors of states
c.
the exercise of this power
4. US
a document or message giving the reasons of the executive for rejecting a bill
: also veto message
5.
the power of any of the five permanent members of the Security Council of the United Nations to cast a negative vote, affirmative votes of all five being required to take action on other than procedural matters
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈvetoed or ˈvetoing
6.
to prevent (a bill) from becoming law by a veto
7.
to forbid; prohibit; refuse consent to
Derived forms
vetoer (ˈvetoer)
noun
Word origin
L, I forbid < vetare, to forbid
Examples of 'veto' in a sentence
veto
All three measures have been vetoed by Britain over the past five years.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The government will not veto a treaty change.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
They can also veto the appointment of a new editor.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Conservatives are very excited by the exercise of the veto.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
His unreconstructed comrades will sense that they can veto any measure with which they feel uncomfortable.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The family kept to itself the right to approve or veto plans for the chapel.
Christianity Today (2000)
The veto would also apply to countries with poor human rights.
The Sun (2015)
The other countries will know that until a deal which suits us is reached we still retain a veto over their plans.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The victorious Government does not seem minded to continue this right of veto by the minority.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
She has the power of veto, though.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But he must now make good his promise to veto any deal bad for Britain.
The Sun (2012)
He wanted a 42 million pay package and a veto over the new chairman.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He cheerfully approved the resumption of gold payments in 1879 and vetoed bills to expand the currency.
Garraty, John Arthur The American Nation: A History of the United States to 1877 (1995)
Any attempt to beef up the government 's veto powers will anger campaigners.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I have the right to veto casting.
The Sun (2012)
A panel of councillors can scrutinise appointments but has no power of veto.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It has the right to veto proposed pay deals and can force a lender to reduce the amount of cash it pays financiers in bonuses.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Most change has involved allowing committees and MPs more chance to express an opinion but not to exercise a veto.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
MPs will be able to veto some presidential appointments, control half their agenda and vote on military interventions lasting more than four months.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
I do hope the government does not allow Scottish politicians to have a veto over the measure.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The anachronism whereby the Lords cannot veto financial Bills should be corrected.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In other languages
veto
British English: veto /ˈviːtəʊ/ NOUN
If someone in authority puts a veto on something, they forbid it, or stop it being put into action.
The veto was a calculated political risk.
American English: veto
Arabic: حَقُّ النَّقْص
Brazilian Portuguese: veto
Chinese: 否决
Croatian: veto
Czech: veto
Danish: veto
Dutch: veto
European Spanish: veto
Finnish: veto-oikeus
French: veto
German: Veto
Greek: βέτο
Italian: veto
Japanese: 拒否権
Korean: 거부권
Norwegian: veto
Polish: weto
European Portuguese: veto
Romanian: veto
Russian: вето
Latin American Spanish: veto
Swedish: veto
Thai: อำนาจในการยับยั้ง
Turkish: veto
Ukrainian: вето
Vietnamese: quyền phủ quyết
British English: veto VERB
If someone in authority vetoes something, they forbid it, or stop it being put into action.
The representative vetoed the country's application to join the organisation.
American English: veto
Brazilian Portuguese: vetar
Chinese: 否决
European Spanish: prohibir
French: opposer son veto à
German: ein Veto einlegen gegen
Italian: opporre il veto a
Japanese: 拒否権を発動する
Korean: 거부권을 행사하다
European Portuguese: vetar
Latin American Spanish: vetar
All related terms of 'veto'
item veto
(in the US) the power of a state governor to veto items in bills without vetoing the entire measure
pocket veto
the action of the President in retaining unsigned a bill passed by Congress within the last ten days of a session and thus causing it to die
absolute veto
a vote , which cannot be overturned , to block a decision
veto message
the power to prevent legislation or action proposed by others; prohibition
line-item veto
executive power to reject a section of a bill , esp. one containing specific appropriations , without vetoing the whole bill
veto an appointment
The appointment of a person to a particular job is the choice of that person to do it.
Chinese translation of 'veto'
veto
(ˈviːtəu)
Word forms:plvetoes
n(c)
否决(決) (fǒujué)
vt
否决(決) (fǒujué)
power of veto否决(決)权(權) (fǒujuéquán)
to put a veto on禁止 (jìnzhǐ)
(noun)
Definition
the exercise of this power
congressmen who tried to override the president's veto of the bill
Synonyms
ban
The General also lifted a ban on political parties.
dismissal
the high-handed dismissal of public opinion
rejection
his rejection of our values
vetoing
boycott
embargo
The UN has imposed an arms embargo against the country.
prohibiting
prohibition
a comprehensive prohibition of nuclear weapons
suppression
knock-back (informal)
interdict
The government has placed an interdict on fishing within territorial waters.
declination
preclusion
nonconsent
Opposites
approval
,
go-ahead (informal)
,
endorsement
,
ratification
(verb)
Definition
to prohibit or forbid
De Gaulle vetoed Britain's application to join the EEC.
Synonyms
ban
Last year arms sales were banned.
block
reject
Paloma has rejected the values of her rich parents.
rule out
kill (informal)
We've got at least an hour to kill.
negative
turn down
forbid
They'll forbid you to leave.
boycott
prohibit
the law which prohibits trading on Sunday
disallow
He ruled that my testimony should be disallowed.
put a stop to
refuse permission to
interdict
Troops could be ferried in to interdict drug shipments.
give the thumbs down to
put the kibosh on (slang)
Opposites
pass
,
approve
,
endorse
,
ratify
,
O.K. or okay (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of disallow
Definition
to reject as untrue or invalid
He ruled that my testimony should be disallowed.
Synonyms
reject,
refuse,
ban,
dismiss,
cancel,
veto,
forbid,
embargo,
prohibit,
rebuff,
repudiate,
disown,
proscribe,
disavow,
disclaim,
abjure
in the sense of dismissal
the high-handed dismissal of public opinion
Synonyms
rejection,
refusal,
rebuff,
knock-back (slang),
kick in the teeth (slang),
brushoff (slang)
in the sense of embargo
Definition
an order by a government or international body prohibiting trade with a country
The UN has imposed an arms embargo against the country.
Synonyms
ban,
bar,
block,
barrier,
restriction,
boycott,
restraint,
check,
prohibition,
moratorium,
stoppage,
impediment,
blockage,
hindrance,
interdiction,
interdict,
proscription,
rahui (New Zealand)
Synonyms of 'veto'
veto
Explore 'veto' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of forbid
Definition
to prohibit or refuse to allow
They'll forbid you to leave.
Synonyms
prohibit,
ban,
disallow,
proscribe,
exclude,
rule out,
veto,
outlaw,
inhibit,
hinder,
preclude,
make illegal,
debar,
interdict,
criminalize
in the sense of interdict
Definition
an official prohibition or restraint
The government has placed an interdict on fishing within territorial waters.
Synonyms
ban,
veto,
prohibition,
taboo,
disqualification,
interdiction,
disallowance,
restraining order (US)
in the sense of interdict
Definition
to prohibit or forbid
Troops could be ferried in to interdict drug shipments.
Synonyms
prohibit,
bar,
ban,
prevent,
veto,
forbid,
outlaw,
disallow,
proscribe,
debar,
criminalize
in the sense of kill
We've got at least an hour to kill.
Synonyms
pass,
spend,
fill,
waste,
occupy,
use up,
while away
in the sense of prohibit
Definition
to forbid by law or other authority
the law which prohibits trading on Sunday
Synonyms
forbid,
ban,
rule out,
veto,
outlaw,
disallow,
proscribe,
debar,
interdict,
criminalize
in the sense of prohibition
Definition
an order or decree that forbids
a comprehensive prohibition of nuclear weapons
Synonyms
ban,
boycott,
embargo,
bar,
veto,
prevention,
exclusion,
injunction,
disqualification,
interdiction,
interdict,
proscription,
disallowance,
forbiddance,
restraining order (US)
in the sense of reject
Definition
to refuse to accept, use, or believe
Paloma has rejected the values of her rich parents.