WorldAugust 16, 2026

vitiate

VISH-ee-ayt

Definition

To spoil, impair, or render ineffective; in a legal context, it means to invalidate a legal act or process because of a fundamental defect.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin word 'vitiare', meaning 'to make faulty' or 'to spoil', which comes from 'vitium', meaning 'fault' or 'defect'.

In the news

The article uses the word to explain that while completely failing to communicate the grounds of an arrest will invalidate or 'vitiate' the arrest, inadequate communication may not automatically do so unless prejudice is proven.

Supreme Court Weekly Roundup: August 03, 2026 To August 09, 2026

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