breach of faith: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, Legal, Journalistic, Literary
Quick answer
What does “breach of faith” mean?
A failure to act according to a promise, agreement, or obligation, especially one based on trust or confidence.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A failure to act according to a promise, agreement, or obligation, especially one based on trust or confidence.
A serious violation of trust, loyalty, or moral duty that damages a relationship or agreement, often carrying a strong connotation of betrayal.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The phrase 'breach of trust' is a very close synonym and may be used slightly more frequently in both varieties, particularly in legal contexts.
Connotations
In both varieties, the phrase carries strong negative connotations of betrayal and unreliability. In legal contexts (UK/Commonwealth & US), it may have specific technical definitions.
Frequency
Moderate frequency in formal/literary contexts; low frequency in casual speech. Slightly more common in British legal and journalistic prose, but the difference is marginal.
Grammar
How to Use “breach of faith” in a Sentence
to commit a breach of faith (with someone)to be a breach of faithto see sth as a breach of faitha breach of faith in/with/towardsVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “breach of faith” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The minister was accused of breaching faith with the electorate.
- To breach faith in such a manner is unforgivable.
American English
- The agent breached his fiduciary faith with the client.
- They felt the company had breached faith by hiding the data.
adverb
British English
- He acted faithlessly, which constituted a breach of faith. (Adverb from related adjective 'faithless')
American English
- They negotiated in bad faith, leading to a breach of faith. (Adverbial phrase 'in bad faith')
adjective
British English
- His faith-breaching actions led to his dismissal. (Note: hyphenated, rare)
- A faithless act (more common adjective).
American English
- The faith-breaking deal was exposed by the press. (Note: hyphenated, rare)
- It was a breach-of-faith situation (compound adjective).
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used regarding partnerships, fiduciary duties, or confidential agreements. 'The CEO's secret deal with a competitor was seen as a gross breach of faith by the board.'
Academic
Appears in ethics, philosophy, political science, and history texts discussing social contracts, alliances, or moral obligations.
Everyday
Used in serious personal contexts (friendships, family) to describe a profound betrayal. 'Telling my secret was a real breach of faith.'
Technical
A specific legal term, often interchangeable with 'breach of trust', relating to fiduciary relationships.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “breach of faith”
Neutral
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “breach of faith”
- Using it for minor let-downs (e.g., being late). It is for serious betrayals.
- Confusing it with 'breach of contract', which is a narrower, more legalistic term.
- Incorrect preposition: 'breach in faith' is less common than 'breach of faith'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'Breach of contract' is a specific legal failure to fulfil the terms of a written or oral contract. 'Breach of faith' is broader, covering moral, ethical, or trust-based obligations that may not be formally contracted. A breach of faith can be a breach of contract, but not all breaches of contract are breaches of faith (some are just technical failures).
Yes, absolutely. While common in legal/business contexts, it is powerfully used to describe a deep betrayal in friendships, family, or romantic relationships, e.g., 'Your deception was a terrible breach of faith.'
They are very close synonyms. 'Breach of faith' often implies the breaking of a specific promise, duty, or understood code of conduct. 'Betrayal' can be more general and emotional. 'Breach of faith' sounds slightly more formal and objective.
No, that is not standard. The verb is simply 'to breach' used with the object 'faith' or 'trust', as in 'to breach someone's faith/trust'. Alternatively, you use phrases like 'to break faith with someone'.
A failure to act according to a promise, agreement, or obligation, especially one based on trust or confidence.
Breach of faith is usually formal, legal, journalistic, literary in register.
Breach of faith: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbriːtʃ əv ˈfeɪθ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbriːtʃ əv ˈfeɪθ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To be in bad faith”
- “To break faith with someone”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a strong wall of FAITH between two people. A BREACH is a hole smashed in that wall, breaking the trust that was protecting the relationship.
Conceptual Metaphor
TRUST/FAITH IS A SOLID STRUCTURE (that can be breached/broken). PROMISES/AGREEMENTS ARE BONDS (that can be severed).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following scenarios BEST illustrates a 'breach of faith'?