violated a law

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "violated a law" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing actions that break legal statutes or regulations. Example: "The company was fined because it violated a law regarding environmental protection."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

I have never violated a law or disobeyed any authority".

The New York Times

His critics say those decisions have violated a law that is supposed to make the corporation a political buffer.

The New York Times

If Yamamoto sought the emperor's assistance, he may have violated a law requiring cabinet approval for such requests.

The Guardian

They violated a law prohibiting a country purchasing American weapons to resell them to a third country that the U.S. was not permitted to sell arms to directly.

The New Yorker

Third, bringing to court a person who has only technically violated a law may, in practice, unduly damage that person's reputation.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The police say that Ms. Hill and Mr. Davies may have violated a law that forbids the dissemination of potentially damaging material leaked illegally by government officials.

The New York Times

The demonstrators were accused of having violated a law recently passed by Congress which made it illegal to cross state lines to incite a riot.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

"Did we violate a law?

The New York Times

Some even suggested it could violate a law against eavesdropping.

The New York Times

Did they violate a law getting his kids into school?

The New York Times

Harsh penalties – including imprisonment – await individuals who violate a law enacted in April.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "violated a law" in contexts where you want to emphasize the legal implications of an action. It is a straightforward and easily understood way to convey that a legal boundary has been crossed.

Common error

Be precise in your language. "Violated a law" indicates a direct breach of a legal statute. Avoid using it when referring to actions that are merely unethical or questionable but don't technically break any law. Use alternative phrasing such as "acted unethically" or "raised concerns" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "violated a law" functions primarily as a declarative statement indicating that a specific legal rule has been broken. It is used to assert that an action has contravened legal statutes, as demonstrated by the numerous examples provided by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "violated a law" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that a legal statute has been breached. According to Ludwig AI, it’s primarily used in neutral and professional contexts, especially within news and media. While alternatives like "broke the law" or "contravened a law" exist, "violated a law" provides a clear and direct means of conveying legal transgression. Remember to be precise when using this phrase, ensuring that the action in question truly constitutes a breach of an established legal rule.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

broke the law

Replaces "violated" with the more informal "broke".

contravened a law

Substitutes "violated" with the more formal "contravened".

infringed a law

Uses "infringed" to suggest a transgression of the law.

transgressed a law

Employs "transgressed", implying a moral or ethical breach alongside the legal one.

breached a statute

Replaces "law" with the more formal "statute".

flouted a regulation

Suggests open and intentional disregard for a specific "regulation".

defied a legal rule

Uses "defied" to emphasize the act of resisting or challenging the "legal rule".

failed to comply with the law

Focuses on the non-compliance aspect rather than the direct violation.

acted in contravention of a law

Emphasizes the action being directly opposed to the law.

ran afoul of the law

Idiomatic expression suggesting an unintentional, yet problematic, conflict with the law.

FAQs

How can I use "violated a law" in a sentence?

You can use "violated a law" to describe an action that breaks a legal rule. For example, "The company was fined because it "violated a law" regarding environmental protection."

What can I say instead of "violated a law"?

You can use alternatives like "broke the law", "contravened a law", or "infringed a law" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "violated a law" or "breached a law"?

"Violated a law" and "breached a law" are similar, but "violated" implies a more direct and intentional breaking of the law, while "breached" can also refer to unintentional failures to comply.

What's the difference between "violated a law" and "disobeyed a law"?

"Violated a law" refers to breaking the formal rules of a legal system, while "disobeyed a law" suggests a refusal to comply with a specific legal command or order. The former is broader, the latter is more specific to direct commands.