What is the action of rejecting a bill or statute called?

The action of rejecting a bill or statute is called a veto. This occurs when an authority, such as a president or governor, formally refuses to sign a proposed piece of legislation into law. A veto serves as a check on the legislative process, preventing a bill from becoming law if it does not meet the approving authority's standards or if there are concerns about its implications.

In contrast to the veto, approval refers to the acceptance of a bill by the legislative body or the designated authority, which is the opposite of rejection. Ratification is the formal confirmation of an agreement or treaty, typically by a legislative body, and does not specifically involve the rejection of legislation. Legislation is the process of making or enacting laws but does not denote the act of rejecting a bill. Thus, veto is the term that specifically denotes the rejection of proposed legislation.