infringe
C1Formal, Legal, Academic
Definition
Meaning
To actively break the terms of a law, agreement, rule, or right.
To gradually encroach or intrude upon something, such as a territory, a right, or personal freedom.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a violation of a formal, legal, or moral boundary. When used intransitively (with 'on' or 'upon'), it focuses more on the act of encroachment rather than the specific rule broken.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage patterns.
Connotations
Equally strong legal/formal connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to common use in legal and constitutional contexts (e.g., 'infringe upon a right').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Verb] + direct object (e.g., infringe a law)[Verb] + on/upon + noun phrase (e.g., infringe on rights)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “infringe on someone's turf”
- “infringe on sacred ground”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used regarding intellectual property, contracts, and regulations (e.g., 'The design was found to infringe our patent.').
Academic
Common in legal, political, and sociological texts discussing rights, freedoms, and legal boundaries.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation; used in formal discussions about rights or rules (e.g., 'That policy infringes on our privacy.').
Technical
Precise term in legal documents and patent law.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The new policy could infringe upon established civil liberties.
- The company was sued for infringing a competitor's copyright.
American English
- The law was struck down for infringing on First Amendment rights.
- You cannot infringe the patent without facing legal action.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- You must not infringe the school rules.
- Does this infringe on my rights?
- The court ruled that the surveillance programme infringed on citizens' privacy.
- Copying the software would infringe copyright.
- Critics argue that the proposed bill infringes upon the fundamental principles of free speech.
- The treaty was carefully drafted to avoid infringing national sovereignty.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a FENCE with a sign saying 'DO NOT ENTER.' To INFRINGE is to break IN through the FENCE.
Conceptual Metaphor
RIGHTS/LAWS ARE BOUNDARIES; To infringe is to cross or break a boundary.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'инфринж' – it's a false friend. Use 'нарушать' or 'посягать'.
- Do not confuse with 'influence' ('влиять').
- Remember the required preposition 'on/upon' for the encroachment sense (посягать на).
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'He infringed my privacy.' (Correct: 'He infringed *on* my privacy.') – though the transitive use with 'right' is correct.
- Incorrect preposition: 'infringe to' or 'infringe at'.
- Spelling confusion with 'infringe' vs. 'infringement' (noun).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'infringe' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it always describes a negative action of breaking a rule or unjustly encroaching.
They are often synonyms, but 'infringe' is more specific to laws, rights, and agreements, and often implies gradual encroachment. 'Violate' can be used more broadly (e.g., violate trust, violate a space) and can sound more severe.
Yes, when used transitively with a direct object like 'law', 'patent', or 'copyright' (e.g., 'infringe a law'). For the 'encroach' sense, 'on' or 'upon' is needed (e.g., 'infringe on a right').
The noun form is 'infringement' (e.g., 'copyright infringement', 'an infringement of rights').