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infraction

in-FRAK-shuhn /ɪnˈfræk.ʃən/

nounC1GRESATTOEFL

legalformal

A violation or infringement of a law, agreement, or set of rules, typically one that is not considered a serious crime.

An infraction is the lowest level of offense, usually punished only by a fine and not resulting in jail time or a criminal record.

The story behind the word. Infraction comes from the Latin 'infringere', which literally means 'to break into pieces'. It shares a family tree with 'fracture' and 'fragile'. When you commit an infraction, you are not shattering the entire legal system; you are just chipping off a tiny corner of a minor rule.

Word relationships

violation: Violation is a broader term that can include serious crimes, whereas infraction specifically implies a minor, non-criminal breach.
trespass: Trespass historically refers to an unlawful entry or a moral wrong, while infraction is strictly regulatory.

compliance: Compliance is the act of obeying the rules, while an infraction is the act of breaking them.

Commonly confused with

misdemeanor: A misdemeanor is a criminal offense that can result in jail time, whereas an infraction is a non-criminal violation punished only by fines.

Word family

infringe (verb): To actively break the terms of a law or agreement.

Collocations

minor infraction
traffic infraction
civil infraction
commit an infraction

Example sentences

"Failing to signal before changing lanes is a minor infraction that carries a small monetary penalty." A legal guide explaining minor traffic offenses.
"Because the offense was classified as a civil infraction rather than a crime, the defendant had no right to a court-appointed attorney." A court ruling on municipal violations.

Memory hook

Think of a 'fraction' as a broken piece of a whole number; an 'infraction' is a broken piece of the law. Infraction is a fraction of a crime—just a broken rule, not a felony.

When not to use

Do not use for serious crimes like felonies or misdemeanors that carry potential jail sentences.

Fun facts

In many states, littering and jaywalking are classified as infractions, meaning you cannot be sentenced to jail for them, no matter how messy or reckless you are.