infringement

Language: en

🇬🇧 /ɪˈnfrɪndʒmənt/ 🇺🇸 /ˌɪˈnfrɪndʒmənt/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    The act of violating or breaking a law, rule, or agreement; a transgression.; The unauthorized use or reproduction of a patent, copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property right.; An encroachment or trespass upon someone's rights, privileges, or territory.; The act of overstepping or exceeding a boundary or limit.; A violation of a treaty or international agreement between nations.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable Plural: infringements

Collocations

patent infringementcopyright infringementtrademark infringementinfringement of rightsinfringement of the lawinfringement notice

Derivatives

infringeinfringer

Synonyms

violationbreachcontraventiontransgressionencroachment

Antonyms

complianceobservanceadherence

Commonly confused

encroachment
EN: 'Encroachment' implies gradual, often stealthy intrusion on rights or territory; 'infringement' implies a more direct and identifiable act of violating a rule or right.
violation
EN: 'Violation' is a broader term covering any breach of a rule, law, or agreement; 'infringement' is more specific, often used in legal contexts involving intellectual property or constitutional rights.

Spelling tips

EN: Remember the silent 'e' is retained: 'infringe' + 'ment' = 'infringement'. Do not drop the 'e' to write 'infringment'.

💬 Examples

  1. The company was fined for infringement of environmental regulations.

  2. The software company filed a lawsuit alleging patent infringement by its competitor.

  3. The new surveillance law was criticized as an infringement on citizens' privacy rights.

  4. His constant interference was seen as an infringement on the manager's authority.

  5. The military buildup was considered an infringement of the peace treaty signed decades earlier.