# infringing

/ˌɪnˈfɹɪndʒɪŋ/ (US) · /ɪnfɹˈɪndʒɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/infringing
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. violating a law or right

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

breaking a rule, a law, or a legal right.

For teachers: acting in a way that violates a law, an agreement, or a person's established rights.

- The company was sued for selling products that were infringing on a rival's patent.
- The court issued an injunction against the distributor, ruling that their marketing materials were infringing upon the plaintiff's established trademarks.

Usage: Often followed by the preposition 'on' or 'upon' when used as a participle, though the adjective form describes the nature of the object itself.

### 2. illegal copies

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

describes something, like a copy of a book or song, that was made without the owner's permission.

For teachers: referring to goods or content produced or distributed in violation of intellectual property laws.

- The website was shut down for hosting infringing content that belonged to movie studios.
- Customs officials seized a large shipment of infringing goods, citing clear violations of international copyright agreements.

Usage: Commonly used as an attributive adjective before nouns like 'content', 'goods', or 'products'.

## Examples

- The company was sued for using infringing software.
- The court ordered the immediate removal of all infringing material from the website to prevent further copyright violations.
- Determining whether a new product is infringing on an existing patent requires a meticulous comparison of technical claims and functional similarities within the specific industry landscape.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.