GREAT GIFT IDEA!

The Vocabulary Builder Workbook of Adjectives

✔ Add 2,000 must-know adjectives to your vocabulary.

✔ All-in-one: dictionary, thesaurus, & workbook.

✔ 99 categorized lessons, 232 practical activities.

✔ Suitable for students & professionals of all ages.

✔ Ideal preparation for: TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS, SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, CPE, BEC, PTE, FCE

Buy on Amazon

4.9

Transform Your Vocabulary Today!

veto

noun

/ˈviːtəʊ/

IPA:

Dictionary definition of veto

The formal power or right of a person or authority to reject, prohibit, or block a proposed law, decision, or action.
"The governor threatened to veto the proposed legislation."

Detailed meaning of veto

Typically, a veto is exercised by a person in a position of authority, such as a president, governor, or leader, who has the ability to refuse their approval or consent to a legislative or executive measure. When a veto is invoked, it prevents the proposed action from becoming law or taking effect. Veto power is often used as a checks-and-balances mechanism in democratic systems to ensure that decisions made by one branch of government can be scrutinized and potentially blocked by another branch, thereby preventing the concentration of too much power in one entity. Veto power plays a significant role in promoting deliberation, compromise, and consensus-building within governments, as it requires proponents of a measure to address concerns and seek approval from the vetoing authority.

Example sentences containing veto

1. The president exercised his veto to reject the bill.
2. The governor's veto prevented the law from passing.
3. The senator threatened to use a veto on the legislation.
4. The mayor's veto was met with opposition from the council.
5. The veto power allows for checks and balances in government.
6. The committee will debate the potential veto of the proposal.

History and etymology of veto

The noun 'veto' has its etymological origins in Latin. It is derived from the Latin word 'veto,' which means 'I forbid' or 'I prohibit.' In ancient Rome, the term was used when a tribune of the plebs (an elected representative of the common people) opposed a legislative proposal by declaring 'Veto!' to block its passage. Over time, 'veto' became a widely recognized term for the formal power or right of a person or authority to reject, prohibit, or block a proposed law, decision, or action. In modern political contexts, the term 'veto' is often associated with the authority of a chief executive, such as a president or governor, to reject legislation passed by a legislative body. Its etymology reflects its historical use in Roman governance and its enduring role in shaping political processes and decision-making in contemporary societies.

Quiz: Find the meaning of the noun veto:

answer1

answer2

answer3

answer4

Try Again!

Correct!

Continue Quiz

Further usage examples of veto

1. Congress has the authority to override a presidential veto.
2. The veto came as a surprise to the majority in parliament.
3. The prime minister's veto was seen as a decisive move.
4. The city council voted to uphold the mayor's veto.
5. The president's veto message explained his objections.
6. The governor's unexpected veto caused controversy.
7. The veto of the budget led to a government shutdown.
8. The mayor's use of the veto was a controversial decision.
9. The senator threatened a filibuster to avoid a veto.
10. The vetoed legislation will be reconsidered next session.
11. The council narrowly avoided a veto on the zoning change.
12. The veto highlighted the divisions within the party.
13. The president issued a rare pocket veto on the bill.
14. The veto process is an essential part of democratic governance.
15. The president has the power of veto over bills passed by Congress.
16. The senator used his veto to block the bill from being passed.
17. The United Nations Security Council has the power to veto resolutions.
18. The mayor's veto was overridden by the city council.
19. The prime minister was criticized for his use of the veto power.
20. The governor's veto of the budget caused controversy.
21. The president's veto was upheld by Congress.
22. The use of the veto is an important tool for checks and balances.
23. The threat of a veto can often lead to compromises being made.
24. The veto power is an important part of many democratic systems.
25. The senator's veto was seen as a setback for the bill's supporters.