Infringement

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ɪnˈfɹɪnd͡ʒmənt/

Definitions

1. An act of breaking or disregarding a law, rule, or legal right without permission
2. The occurrence of unauthorized use or breach of regulations protecting rights or property
3. The action of encroaching upon someone's legal rights or failing to comply with established laws

Etymology: "Infringement" is built from "infringe" and the suffix "-ment". The verb "infringe" comes from Latin "infringere", meaning "to break into" or "to break off", from "in-" plus "frangere", "to break". The sense of breaking a law or agreement came later: the verb's original sense was to break or shatter something physical, and it shifted toward violating a rule or obligation. The suffix "-ment" has a long pedigree of its own. It descends from Latin "-mentum", which formed nouns denoting the result or means of an action, and it passed into English through Old French "-ment". English has used it to make many nouns from verbs, so "infringement" follows a common pattern: the act or result of infringing. The suffix is what turns the verb's action into a noun naming that action.

Synonyms: violation, breach, transgression, encroachment, infraction

Antonyms: compliance, conformity, observance, adherence, agreement