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infringe

in-FRINJ /ɪnˈfrɪndʒ/

verbC1GRESATTOEFLIELTS

formallegal

Actively break the terms of a law, agreement, or intellectual property right.

Usually paired with prepositions 'on' or 'upon' when referring to rights or territories; transitive when used directly with terms like 'copyright' or 'patent'.

The story behind the word. From Latin 'infringere' meaning 'to break off or shatter'. The same root 'frangere' gives us 'fracture' and 'fragile'.

Word relationships

violate: Violate is broader and can apply to laws, boundaries, or trust, whereas infringe specifically targets legal rights or contracts.
encroach: Encroach implies gradual intrusion upon space or authority, whereas infringe implies direct violation of legal rights.

comply: Comply means to obey or abide by laws and agreements.

Commonly confused with

impinge: Impinge means to have an impact or physical effect, whereas infringe specifically means breaking a law or right.

Word family

infringement (noun): The action of breaking terms of a law or right.
infringer (noun): A person or entity that violates legal rights.

Collocations

infringe on rights
infringe a patent
infringe copyright
alleged to infringe

Example sentences

"The lawsuit claims the tech manufacturer used patented microchip designs without permission, acting to infringe upon exclusive rights." Corporate legal dispute
"To prove that the defendant did infringe the plaintiff's copyright, the court must find substantial similarity between the works." Judicial opinion quote

Memory hook

When you INFRINGE on a right, you step IN and FRINGE (break) the legal boundary. INFRINGE = Break in on rights.

When not to use

Avoid using 'infringe' for physical violent acts or minor polite social faux pas.

Fun facts

In legal practice, 'patent infringement' claims often involve complex claim-chart comparisons running hundreds of pages.