verstoßen gegen
to violate
To disregard or break a rule, law, norm, or principle.
EXAMPLE
Wer bei Rot über die Ampel fährt, verstößt gegen die Straßenverkehrsordnung.
Anyone who drives through a red light violates traffic regulations.
verstoßen
to violate / to cast out
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Meanings
verstoßen
to cast out
To exclude someone from a community, such as a family or tribe, and break off contact with that person.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem schweren Verrat wurde er von seiner Familie verstoßen.
After the serious betrayal, he was cast out by his family.
Usage tips
Inseparable verb
'Verstoßen' (to violate / to cast out) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'ver-' remains firmly attached to the verb stem 'stoßen' in all tenses and sentence constructions. The prefix 'ver-' here suggests a wrong or negative action.
EXAMPLE
Er hat gegen das Versprechen verstoßen.
He violated the promise.
Context clue
The two meanings can easily be distinguished by the grammar. When a rule is broken, 'gegen' + accusative is always used. When a person is excluded, that person appears as the direct accusative object in the sentence.
EXAMPLE
Der Sportler verstieß gegen die Dopingregeln.
The athlete violated the doping rules.
Fixed preposition
In the meaning 'eine Regel brechen' (to break a rule), 'verstoßen' (to violate) is always used with the preposition 'gegen' and the accusative. You cannot *verstoßen something*, only *gegen etwas verstoßen* (violate something).
EXAMPLE
Dieses Verhalten verstößt gegen unsere Prinzipien.
This behavior violates our principles.
Sentence structure
When a person is 'verstoßen' (cast out), that person is the accusative object. Often 'aus' + dative is added to indicate from which group the person is excluded.
EXAMPLE
Die Familie hat ihren Sohn verstoßen.
The family cast out their son.
Compare with
verstoßen vs verletzen
to injure / hurt / violate
Verletzen and verstoßen can express the same disregard for a rule or law. The sentence structure is different: you verletzen a rule directly, but you verstoßen gegen a rule. Verstoßen particularly emphasizes the act of violating the rule.
verstoßen
Wer vertrauliche Daten weitergibt, verstößt gegen diese Regel.
Anyone who shares confidential data violates this rule.
verletzen
Wer vertrauliche Daten weitergibt, verletzt diese Regel.
Anyone who shares confidential data violates this rule.
In real life
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