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violate

 
 
/ˈvaɪəleɪt/ verb [T]

Definition

LAW to break a law, agreement, rule etc.: They were charged with violating federal law. The CEO has been accused of violating professional ethics.
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY to act in a way that does not show respect for an important principle: Questions of this kind violate my privacy, and I am not willing to answer them. It is important that we do not violate the customer's trust.
(Definition of violate verb from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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