Other forms: vetoed, vetoes, vetoing
To veto is to refuse to allow something that others have agreed. Veto the plan, exercise a veto, the power of veto.
It is the power to block rather than to propose, which is why it is such a strong tool: one veto defeats a majority. The five permanent members of the UN Security Council each hold one. In the United States the president may veto a bill and Congress may override it with a two-thirds vote. Note that veto is Latin for I forbid, said by Roman tribunes.
1verbvetoTo refuse to allow something that others have agreed.
“The president vetoed the new law that parliament had passed.”
2nounpowerThe power to block a decision.
“Roughly five states hold a veto there.”
veto is a power to block.
Latin veto means I forbid, and the Roman tribunes of the plebs used the word to block acts of the Senate. English took it whole.
Proto-Indo-European
*weth₂-
Latin
vetō — to forbid
English, today
veto
From Latin vetō (“to forbid”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA
Practised in Politics & Society