violation

A violation is the act or instance of breaking a rule, law, agreement, or standard. The term is used across legal, administrative, organizational, and ethical contexts. A violation implies that a norm or requirement has not been met and may carry penalties or other consequences.

In legal contexts, violations can be criminal offenses or civil violations. Criminal violations are acts prohibited by law and punishable by penalties such as imprisonment or fines. Civil violations involve non-criminal breaches, often leading to damages or injunctions. Regulatory violations occur when entities fail to comply with statutes, regulations, or licensing requirements. Another category is contract violations, where one party breaches an agreement. Ethical violations refer to breaches of professional or social norms, which may or may not be illegal, and can damage reputation and trust.

Examples of violations include speeding under traffic laws, copyright or trademark infringement, data protection or privacy violations, tax evasion, workplace harassment, or breach of confidentiality. These examples illustrate how violations can arise in everyday life, business, and governance, and how they can differ in severity and consequence depending on the applicable rule and jurisdiction.

Enforcement and outcomes depend on the legal or organizational context. Investigations, charges, court proceedings, fines, imprisonment, damages, or disciplinary actions by employers or professional bodies may follow a violation. In many systems, violators have opportunities to contest charges, seek remedies, and bring themselves into compliance. The term is often contrasted with related concepts such as infringement, breach, or noncompliance, depending on the domain.