Word
infringement
Phoneticsin·fringe·ment, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪnˈfɹɪndʒmənt/
UK/ɪnfɹˈɪndʒmənt/
Definitions
01breaking a law or rule
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Law Formal
n. the act of breaking a law, a rule, or an official agreement.
n. a violation or breach of a law, regulation, or contractual agreement.
“The company faced a large fine for its infringement of safety regulations.”
“The court ruled that the sudden change in policy constituted a clear infringement of the existing labour laws.”
Usage
Often followed by the preposition 'of'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02violating a right
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Law Formal
n. the act of limiting or taking away someone's rights, such as their privacy or their property.
n. an encroachment on a person's legal rights, territory, or property, particularly intellectual property.
“Using that photo without permission is an infringement of the photographer's copyright.”
“The proposed surveillance measures were criticised by civil liberties groups as an unnecessary infringement on personal privacy.”
Usage
Commonly used with 'on' or 'upon' when referring to rights or privacy.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“Reports of misuse of Flock’s system as well as concerns over privacy infringement have dogged the company for years but have only recently had a significant impact on it.” “A lawsuit brought forward by pro-Kremlin nationalist party Rodina also argued that Yabloko was guilty of copyright infringement.” Etymology
From infringe + -ment.
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
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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