What does veto mean?
A veto is the power or act of preventing an otherwise permissible decision, proposal, or action from taking effect. It is especially associated with legislative and executive institutions: a president, governor, parliament, committee, or other authorized body may reject a measure by veto. The noun can refer either to that authority or to the official decision itself, while the verb describes using the authority to block something. Outside institutional contexts, “veto” can more broadly mean to refuse consent or offer a decisive objection, sometimes implying that the speaker holds substantial influence. The word has a formal, authoritative tone and is not usually interchangeable with “vote,” which records or expresses a choice rather than preventing a decision. Its unusual history makes it especially memorable: it comes directly from the Latin first-person singular form meaning “I forbid,” reflecting an ancient tradition of publicly pronouncing a prohibition.
An official rejection of a proposal or other action, or the formal authority to prevent it from proceeding.
"The governor's veto prevented the new law from taking effect."
Most common in legislative, executive, legal, and institutional contexts.
To reject or prevent a proposal, measure, appointment, or other action by exercising a veto.
"Parliament vetoed the emergency spending bill."
The verb is formal and may imply that the person or body has recognized authority to block the action.
The standard plural adds -es; it is used when referring to multiple acts of veto or multiple instances in which a veto is exercised.
"The president issued two vetoes during the first year of the term."
Veto began as a Roman prohibition: the Latin speaker was literally saying, “I forbid.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does veto come from?
English veto was borrowed from Latin vetō, vetāre, meaning “I forbid” and “to forbid.” Latin vetō was used as a public declaration of prohibition, and English subsequently developed both noun and verb uses for an official rejection or the power to block a proposal. The Latin forms vetāre, vetō, and vetātor share this origin; vetātor denotes one who forbids.
Related word forms
How veto is actually used
The word is chiefly formal and institutional, especially in political, legal, and organizational contexts. In broader use, it can describe any decisive act of refusal or obstruction, often with a suggestion of power or authority.
Easily confused with veto
A vote expresses a choice in an election or deliberation, whereas a veto prevents a proposal from taking effect.