infringe
verb
in·fringe in-ˈfrinj 
infringed; infringing
transitive verb
1
: to encroach upon in a way that violates law or the rights of another
infringe a patent
2
obsolete : defeat, frustrate
intransitive verb
: encroach —used with on or upon
infringe on our rights
infringer noun
Synonyms
- breach
- break
- contravene
- fracture
- offend
- traduce
- transgress
- violate
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
They claim that his use of the name infringes their copyright. Her rights must not be infringed.
Recent Examples on the Web Some board members have wondered if a mental health center would infringe on parents’ rights, and others wonder if schools are the best place for mental health care. 
Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2022 China has argued that visits by U.S. lawmakers infringe on America's One China Policy, which states that the U.S. acknowledges the Beijing government as the sole government of China. Anders Hagstrom, Fox News, 15 Aug. 2022 No prior power can be twisted to abridge or infringe on our Civil Rights. Anchorage Daily News, 5 Aug. 2022 In response, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton had argued that HB 20 does not infringe on tech platforms' speech rights. Brian Fung, CNN, 31 May 2022 Loy says if someone is recording events of public significance, that does not infringe on copyright law even if an officer is playing Disney songs. Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2022 But in Roe, the U.S. Supreme Court determined governments could not infringe upon a pregnant person's right to privacy under the 14th Amendment. Dave Boucher, Detroit Free Press, 7 Apr. 2022 China’s military announced live-fire drills that started Thursday, some of them in parts of the sea that appear to infringe on areas that Taiwan says are in its territorial waters. Mike Ives, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Aug. 2022 In 2016, Seirus was found to infringe the same Columbia design but that ruling was later reversed and remanded on a technicality. Eric Smith, Outside Online, 27 Aug. 2021 See More
Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2022 China has argued that visits by U.S. lawmakers infringe on America's One China Policy, which states that the U.S. acknowledges the Beijing government as the sole government of China. Anders Hagstrom, Fox News, 15 Aug. 2022 No prior power can be twisted to abridge or infringe on our Civil Rights. Anchorage Daily News, 5 Aug. 2022 In response, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton had argued that HB 20 does not infringe on tech platforms' speech rights. Brian Fung, CNN, 31 May 2022 Loy says if someone is recording events of public significance, that does not infringe on copyright law even if an officer is playing Disney songs. Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2022 But in Roe, the U.S. Supreme Court determined governments could not infringe upon a pregnant person's right to privacy under the 14th Amendment. Dave Boucher, Detroit Free Press, 7 Apr. 2022 China’s military announced live-fire drills that started Thursday, some of them in parts of the sea that appear to infringe on areas that Taiwan says are in its territorial waters. Mike Ives, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Aug. 2022 In 2016, Seirus was found to infringe the same Columbia design but that ruling was later reversed and remanded on a technicality. Eric Smith, Outside Online, 27 Aug. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Medieval Latin infringere, from Latin, to break, crush, from in- + frangere to break — more at break
First Known Use
1513, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Kids Definition
infringe
verb
in·fringe in-ˈfrinj
infringed; infringing
1
: to fail to obey or act in agreement with : violate
infringe a law
2
: to go further than is right or fair to another : encroach
Legal Definition
infringe
verb
in·fringe in-ˈfrinj
infringed; infringing
transitive verb
: to encroach upon in a way that violates law or the rights of another
the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed U.S. Constitution amend. II
U.S. Constitution amend. II especially : to violate a holder's rights under (a copyright, patent, trademark, or trade name)
intransitive verb
: encroach
infringed
verb
1
as in violated
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- violated
- breached
- offended
- trespassed
- transgressed
- strayed
- erred
- fell
- sinned
- wandered
- broke
- lapsed
- messed up
- backslid
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- justified
- regretted
- forgave
- pardoned
- repented
- rued
2
as in invaded
Synonyms & Similar Words
- invaded
- impinged
- intruded
- entrenched
- encroached
- intrenched
- sneaked
- overstepped
- snuck
- overreached
- snaked
- overshot
- overran
- overpassed
- crept
- inched
- wormed