What is "pocket veto"

Pocket veto \Pocket veto\ The retention by the President of the United States of a bill unsigned so that it does not become a law, in virtue of the following constitutional provision (
--Const. Art. I., sec. 7, cl. 2): ``If any bill shall not be returned by the President within ten days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a law, in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their adjournment prevent its return, in which case it shall not be a law.'' Also, an analogous retention of a bill by a State governor.

n. (context US English) A (de facto) veto of a bill by the US President by restricting Congressional action on the bill, as, figuratively, by carrying the bill in his pocket until the deadline for signing it has passed.

n. indirect veto of legislation by refusing to sign it

A pocket veto is a legislative maneuver that allows a president or other official with veto power to exercise that power over a bill by taking no action (instead of affirmatively vetoing it).