line-item veto: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Political/Governmental, Legal
Quick answer
What does “line-item veto” mean?
A special power granted to an executive (e.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A special power granted to an executive (e.g., a president or governor) allowing them to reject specific sections (line items) of a piece of legislation (especially a budget or appropriations bill) without vetoing the entire document.
An act of exercising this power; more broadly, the selective rejection or cancellation of individual components within a larger plan, list, or agreement.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The concept is almost exclusively American, as the UK parliamentary system does not grant this power to the executive. In the UK, the term is used descriptively in political science to discuss US politics or in theoretical discussions about constitutional reform.
Connotations
In US contexts, it con debates over executive power, fiscal control, and checks and balances. In non-US contexts, it is a technical term describing a foreign political mechanism.
Frequency
High frequency in US political discourse; very low frequency in general British English.
Grammar
How to Use “line-item veto” in a Sentence
[Executive] + [verb: exercised/used/issued] + a line-item veto + [preposition: on/against] + [bill/appropriations]The + line-item veto + [verb: allows/enables] + [executive] + to + [verb: strike/remove] + [items].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “line-item veto” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The proposal is to allow the minister to line-item veto specific clauses, though this is constitutionally dubious here.
American English
- The governor threatened to line-item veto the controversial earmarks in the transportation bill.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable.
American English
- Not applicable.
adjective
British English
- The line-item veto power is a topic of academic debate in comparative politics.
American English
- A line-item veto authority was reinstated for the state budget process.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used literally. Metaphorically: 'The CEO has a line-item veto on the project budget, so we need her approval for each major expense.'
Academic
Used in political science, public administration, constitutional law, and American studies to analyze executive-legislative relations and fiscal policy.
Everyday
Very rare. Might be used in news discussions about state or federal budget disputes.
Technical
A precise legal/political term within statutes and constitutional documents defining executive powers, especially in US state and federal law.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “line-item veto”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “line-item veto”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “line-item veto”
- Using it as a verb without explanation (e.g., 'He line-item vetoed the bill' is informal). The standard phrasing is 'exercised a line-item veto on'.
- Applying it to contexts without a formal legislative process, which weakens the term's technical meaning.
- Misspelling as 'line item veto' (unhyphenated) is common but the hyphenated form is standard in formal writing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The US President does not have a general constitutional line-item veto. It existed temporarily under a 1996 federal law that was later ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. However, many US state governors do possess this power under their state constitutions.
A standard veto rejects an entire bill. A line-item veto allows an executive to reject specific sections (like individual spending items) while signing the rest of the bill into law.
Yes, typically. Like a regular veto, a line-item veto can usually be overridden by a legislative body (e.g., a state legislature or Congress) with a supermajority vote, as defined by the relevant constitution or law.
It is occasionally used as a business metaphor to describe a manager's or client's power to reject specific parts of a proposal, plan, or contract while accepting the overall framework. This usage is understood but not as common as the political one.
A special power granted to an executive (e.
Line-item veto is usually formal, political/governmental, legal in register.
Line-item veto: in British English it is pronounced /ˌlaɪnˌaɪ.təm ˈviː.təʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌlaɪnˌaɪ.t̬əm ˈviː.t̬oʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Pick and choose (related in concept but not specific)”
- “To take a red pen to something (metaphorical)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a long shopping list (the bill). A line-item veto lets the parent (executive) cross off specific, unwanted items (like expensive candy) without throwing away the entire list of groceries.
Conceptual Metaphor
GOVERNMENT SPENDING IS A DOCUMENT; EXECUTIVE POWER IS AN EDITING TOOL (a red pen, a delete key).
Practice
Quiz
In which political system is a 'line-item veto' most commonly an active, real power?