n.; pl. Vetoes [ L. veto I forbid. ] [ 1913 Webster ] 1. An authoritative prohibition or negative; a forbidding; an interdiction. [ 1913 Webster ] This contemptuous veto of her husband's on any intimacy with her family. G. Eliot. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. Specifically: -- [ 1913 Webster ] (a) A power or right possessed by one department of government to forbid or prohibit the carrying out of projects attempted by another department; especially, in a constitutional government, a power vested in the chief executive to prevent the enactment of measures passed by the legislature. Such a power may be absolute, as in the case of the Tribunes of the People in ancient Rome, or limited, as in the case of the President of the United States. Called also the veto power. [ 1913 Webster ] (b) The exercise of such authority; an act of prohibition or prevention; as, a veto is probable if the bill passes. [ 1913 Webster ] (c) A document or message communicating the reasons of the executive for not officially approving a proposed law; -- called also veto message. [ U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ] ☞ Veto is not a term employed in the Federal Constitution, but seems to be of popular use only. Abbott. [ 1913 Webster ] | 
