Word
infringe
Phoneticsin·fringe, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪnˈfɹɪndʒ/
UK/ɪnfɹˈɪndʒ/
Definition
v. to break a law or a rule. It can also mean to enter a private area without permission.
v. to violate or transgress a law, right, or privilege; to enter a private property without permission. Transitive — requires a direct object.
Examples
“The new law infringes on our right to privacy.”
“The company was fined for infringing on a patent held by a smaller competitor.”
“Legal scholars argue that the proposed surveillance measures infringe upon fundamental civil liberties, creating a climate of fear that stifles free expression.”
Examples
simple
“The new law infringes on our right to privacy.”
contextual
“The company was fined for infringing on a patent held by a smaller competitor.”
complex
“Legal scholars argue that the proposed surveillance measures infringe upon fundamental civil liberties, creating a climate of fear that stifles free expression.”
Real-World Examples
“A federal judge criticised the Trump government for attempting to infringe upon foreign students' rights to free speech.” “The US district judge Reed O’Connor, who was appointed by George W Bush, said the 2022 rule infringes on a person’s right to make or repair personal firearms.” Etymology
Borrowed from Latin infringere (“to break off, break, bruise, weaken, destroy”), from in (“in”) + frangere (“to break”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/infringe