An infraction is usually the breaking of a law, rule, or agreement. So a nation charged with an infraction of an international treaty will usually have to pay a penalty. In Federal law, an infraction is even smaller than a misdemeanor, and the only penalty is a fine. Most of us occasionally commit infractions of parking laws and get ticketed; speeding tickets are usually for infractions as well, though they go on a permanent record and can end up costing you money for years to come. The closely related word infringement generally refers to a violation of a right or privilege; use of another's writings without permission, for example, may be an infringement of the copyright.
speeding is only a minor infraction, but vehicular homicide is a serious felony
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
In other words, the increase in recorded officer infractions looks to us like a positive development, strange as that may sound.—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 21 Feb. 2025 Provides cybersecurity insurance to more than 53,000 small and midsize businesses to protect against everything from ransomware and social engineering attacks to privacy infractions.—Jeff Kauflin, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2025 This touched a nerve in Hollywood, where A.I. was central to the 2023 actors’ and writers’ strikes, but opinions were split on the infraction.—Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 6 Feb. 2025 The infraction took place on a touchdown run by Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the second quarter of last week’s game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 2 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for infraction
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Medieval Latin infraction-, infractio, from Latin, subduing, from infringere to break — more at infringe
Share