Words / B2

VEYE-uh-l-uh-ns/ˈvaɪələns/

Violence is physical harm to people, or great destructive force (usually uncountable): street violence; a violence of the storm. Force is wider; assault is a crime. The source discusses structural violence in housing. Mix-up: violation is a broken rule (previous entry). Do not write “a violence” for one punch.

Meaning

Behaviour that hurts people physically, or great force.

Examples

• “The source discusses structural violence in housing, not only street fights.”
• “The violence of the blast cracked the windows, which is the force sense.”

Good to know

physical / domestic / structural violence. Uncountable in most exam uses. Crime: assault. Trap: violation. Sociology and news. Harm or force, not a single blow as a count.

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