Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense infringes, present participle infringing, past tense, past participle infringed
1. verb
If someone infringes a law or a rule, they break it or do something which disobeys it.
The film exploited his image and infringed his copyright. [VERB noun]
The jury ruled that he had infringed no rules. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: break, violate, contravene [formal], disobey More Synonyms of infringe
2. verb
If something infringes people's rights, it interferes with these rights and does not allow people the freedom they are entitled to.
They rob us, they infringe our rights, they kill us. [VERB noun]
It's starting to infringe on our personal liberties. [VERB + on]
infringe in British English
(ɪnˈfrɪndʒ)
verb
1. (transitive)
to violate or break (a law, an agreement, etc)
2. (intr; foll by on or upon)
to encroach or trespass
Derived forms
infringement (inˈfringement)
noun
infringer (inˈfringer)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Latin infringere to break off, from frangere to break
infringe in American English
(ɪnˈfrɪndʒ)
verb transitiveWord forms: inˈfringed or inˈfringing
to break (a law or agreement); fail to observe the terms of; violate
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈtrespass
Idioms:
infringe on
Derived forms
infringement (inˈfringement)
noun
Word origin
L infringere, to break off, break, impair, violate < in-, in + frangere, to break
Examples of 'infringe' in a sentence
infringe
If technology laws infringe liberties but do not stop crime then they will not command public respect.
Computing (2010)
The company has previously ignored the imprint except to deter others from infringing its copyright.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Conspiracy theorists will come up with ridiculous claims about how these measures infringe freedom.
The Sun (2012)
At least he can ensure security and run this country without infringing our personal freedoms.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Those who infringe the copyright face legal action and a higher levy of 15 per cent.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
BT had actual knowledge of other persons using its service to infringe copyright.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
But some MPs fear the new law could infringe men's civil liberties.
The Sun (2011)
Accordingly, what had to be shown was that an internet service provider had actual knowledge of one or more persons using its service toinfringe copyright.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Previously, they had had to rely on existing compositions and they were in danger of infringing copyright, for example if they took the works out of school.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
infringe
British English: infringe VERB
If someone infringes a law or a rule, they break it or do something which disobeys it.
The film exploited his image and infringed his copyright.
American English: infringe
Brazilian Portuguese: infringir
Chinese: 违反
European Spanish: infringir
French: enfreindre
German: verstoßen gegen
Italian: violare
Japanese: >破る法律・規則を
Korean: 어기다
European Portuguese: infringir
Latin American Spanish: infringir
(verb)
Definition
to violate or break (a law or agreement)
The film exploited his image and infringed his copyright.
Synonyms
break
We didn't know we were breaking the law.
violate
They violated the ceasefire agreement.
contravene (formal)
He said the article did not contravene the industry's code of conduct.
disobey
He was forever disobeying the rules.
transgress
He had transgressed the boundaries of good taste.
phrasal verb
See infringe on or upon
Additional synonyms
in the sense of contravene
Definition
to break (a rule or law)
He said the article did not contravene the industry's code of conduct.
Synonyms
break,
violate,
go against,
infringe,
disobey,
transgress
in the sense of disobey
Definition
to neglect or refuse to obey (a person or an order)