infringed
C1/C2formal/legal/academic
Definition
Meaning
to break or violate (a law, agreement, rule, or right)
to encroach upon or limit something, such as rights, freedoms, or personal space
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Typically implies a violation of something established or protected, often with legal or moral consequences. Stronger than 'break' and implies transgression against authority or rights.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning or usage; both varieties use it primarily in legal/formal contexts.
Connotations
Same formal/legal connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British legal texts due to EU law historical context, but difference is minimal.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
infringed on/upon [rights/territory]infringed [law/rule/agreement]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “infringe on someone's turf”
- “infringe upon sacred ground”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in contracts, IP law, and compliance discussions (e.g., 'The software infringed our patent').
Academic
Common in law, political science, and ethics papers discussing rights and regulations.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation; might appear in news or formal discussions about rights.
Technical
Primarily legal terminology; also in engineering regarding patent violations.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The company infringed copyright by using the logo without permission.
- He felt his privacy had been infringed upon by the new policy.
American English
- The software update infringed on several patents held by competitors.
- They argued the law infringed constitutional rights.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverb form.
American English
- No standard adverb form.
adjective
British English
- No standard adjective form; 'infringing' is the present participle used adjectivally (e.g., infringing material).
American English
- No standard adjective form; 'infringing' is used (e.g., infringing products were seized).
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He didn't want to infringe on their privacy.
- Copying the design infringed the rules.
- The new policy might infringe upon freedom of speech.
- The court ruled the company had infringed copyright law.
- The legislation was struck down for infringing fundamental human rights.
- Manufacturing those components clearly infringes upon our patented technology.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a FENCE with a SIGN saying 'No Entry'. You break the fence = INFRINGE the rule.
Conceptual Metaphor
RIGHTS ARE BOUNDARIES / LAWS ARE BARRIERS (to infringe is to cross a boundary/barrier).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'нарушать' for minor everyday rules; 'infringe' is for serious/legal violations.
- Do not confuse with 'вторгаться' (invade) – 'infringe' is more about legal/rights violation than physical entry.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'infringed' for simple mistakes (e.g., 'He infringed the dinner plan')
- Incorrect preposition: 'infringed to' instead of 'infringed on/upon'.
Practice
Quiz
Which context is 'infringed' MOST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's primarily formal/legal. In everyday talk, 'broke' or 'violated' are more common.
Usually 'on' or 'upon' (infringed on rights). Sometimes used transitively without preposition (infringed a patent).
They are close synonyms. 'Infringed' often implies encroachment on rights/territory; 'violated' can be broader (e.g., violated trust).
Almost never. It inherently describes a negative act of breaking/transgressing.