Definition

1. Noun:

   • The power or right to reject or prohibit a decision or proposal: A "veto" is the authority, especially held by a person in a position of power like a president or governor, to officially reject a bill passed by a legislature, preventing it from becoming law.
   • An instance of using this power: A "veto" can also refer to the specific act of rejecting something.

2. Verb:

   • To reject or prohibit something decisively: To "veto" means to use one's authority to forbid or block a plan, proposal, or piece of legislation.
   • To refuse to endorse or assent to something: It means to vote against or refuse to give approval.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The president used his veto to stop the bill from becoming law.
  • The council member threatened to exercise her veto over the new budget proposal.

• Verb:

  • The governor vetoed the tax increase passed by the state assembly.
  • My parents vetoed my plan to go to the concert on a school night.

Advanced Usage

• Pocket veto: A special type of veto where a president or executive indirectly rejects a bill by taking no action on it until the legislative session ends.

  • The bill died from a pocket veto when the president refused to sign it before Congress adjourned.

• Veto-proof majority: A legislative majority large enough to override an executive's veto.

  • The bill passed with a veto-proof majority, so the president's rejection was overridden.

Variants and Related Words

• Vetoes (n): The plural form of the noun "veto."

  • The mayor issued three vetoes this year.

• Vetoed (v): The past tense and past participle of the verb "veto."

  • The controversial law was vetoed last week.

Synonyms

• Reject: To refuse to accept or consider.
• Prohibit: To formally forbid by law, rule, or other authority.
• Nix (informal): To put an end to; to cancel.
• Forbid: To command someone not to do something.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

(Note: "Veto" is not commonly used with particles to form phrasal verbs. Its meaning is typically expressed directly.)

Related Idioms

• Have/possess the power of veto: To hold the official authority to reject decisions.

  • As the committee chair, she has the power of veto over any new project.

• Put/set a veto on something: To impose a prohibition or rejection on something.

  • The board put a veto on the risky investment plan.

Noun

1. 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)
2. a vote that blocks a decision

Verb

1. command against
   • I forbid you to call me late at night
   • Mother vetoed the trip to the chocolate store
   • Dad nixed our plans
2. vote against; refuse to endorse; refuse to assent
   • The President vetoed the bill