verb
infringe
in-FRINJ/ɪnˈfrɪndʒ/
To break a law or agreement or encroach on a right or boundary.
The woman infringes the station's smoking ban beneath the prohibition sign.
Etymology
The Latin pieces formed a verb meaning to break or damage. Applied to a law, right, or agreement, that physical breaking becomes a violation of something meant to remain intact.
In context
one's actions may affect others in a negative harmful or disagreeable way even if they do not infringe upon their rights.
More examples
- Selling unauthorized copies infringes the author's copyright.
- The company infringed the terms of its licensing agreement.
- The business denies infringing any environmental laws.
Forms
infringe · infringes · infringed · infringing
infringement noun — A violation of a law or right.