veto

[vee-toh] /ˈvi toʊ/

noun, plural vetoes. Also called veto power (for defs 1, 4).

the power or right vested in one branch of a government to cancel or postpone the decisions, enactments, etc., of another branch, especially the right of a president, governor, or other chief executive to reject bills passed by the legislature.

the exercise of this right.

Also called veto message. a document exercising such right and setting forth the reasons for such action.

a nonconcurring vote by which one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council can overrule the actions or decisions of the meeting on matters other than procedural.

an emphatic prohibition of any sort.

pocket veto.

verb (used with object), vetoed, vetoing.

to reject (a proposed bill or enactment) by exercising a veto.

to prohibit emphatically.

Origin

1620-30; < Latin vetō I forbid

Related forms

vetoer, noun

preveto, noun, plural prevetoes, verb (used with object), prevetoed, prevetoing.

reveto, verb (used with object), revetoed, revetoing.

unvetoed, adjective

Examples from the web for veto

But the more serious threat comes from semiautonomous machines over which humans retain nothing more than last-ditch veto power.
Instead, lawmakers set the price so that the broadcasters couldn't veto the emerging technologies of cable.
Yes, and the president has this thing called a veto.
No one has yet figured out how to make it do that, but it is nevertheless important if only as a veto power.
So it is left to them to vet or veto candidates on whatever grounds they choose.
Almost everybody had veto power, but no one could initiate.
The alternative will be veto upon veto as he tries to remain ideologically pure.
And, it would give lenient jurisdictions a veto over not so lenient jurisdictions.
The centre can exert control indirectly through deficit targets and the right to veto borrowing.
It is obvious that the veto of statehood will further increase violence between the extremists on both sides.

British Dictionary definitions for veto

veto

/ˈviːtəʊ/

noun (pl) -toes

the power to prevent legislation or action proposed by others; prohibition: the presidential veto

the exercise of this power

(US, government) Also called veto message. a document containing the reasons why a chief executive has vetoed a measure

verb (transitive) -toes, -toing, -toed

to refuse consent to (a proposal, esp a government bill)

to prohibit, ban, or forbid: her parents vetoed her trip

Derived Forms

vetoer, noun
vetoless, adjective

Word Origin

C17: from Latin: I forbid, from vetāre to forbid

Word Origin and History for veto

1620s, from Latin veto, literally "I forbid," first person singular present indicative of vetare "forbid," of unknown origin. Used by Roman tribunes who opposed measures of the Senate or magistrates.

1706, from veto (n.). Related: Vetoed; vetoing.

veto in Culture

veto definition

A vote that blocks a decision. In the United Nations, for example, each of the five permanent members of the Security Council has the power of veto.

veto definition

The power of a president or governor to reject a bill proposed by a legislature by refusing to sign it into law. The president or governor actually writes the word veto (Latin for “I forbid”) on the bill and sends it back to the legislature with a statement of his or her objections. The legislature may choose to comply by withdrawing or revising the bill, or it can override the veto and pass the law, by a two-thirds vote in each house.

Note: Originally intended to prevent Congress from passing unconstitutional laws, the veto is now used by the president as a powerful bargaining tool, especially when his objectives conflict with majority sentiment in Congress. (See also checks and balances.)