breach

¹breach

noun \ˈbrēch\

Definition of BREACH

1

: infraction or violation of a law, obligation, tie, or standard

2

a : a broken, ruptured, or torn condition or area b : a gap (as in a wall) made by battering

3

a : a break in accustomed friendly relations b : a temporary gap in continuity : hiatus

4

: a leap especially of a whale out of water

Examples of BREACH

1. This is clearly a breach of the treaty.
2. Many people consider her decision to be a breach of trust .
3. The judge ruled that the doctor's actions were in breach of her contractual duty.

Origin of BREACH

Middle English breche, from Old English brǣc act of breaking; akin to Old English brecan to break

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to BREACH

Synonyms: contravention, infraction, infringement, transgression, trespass, violation

Antonyms: noninfringement, nonviolation, observance

Related Words: misconduct, misdemeanor, misfeasance, misprision, offense (or offence), sin, wrong; disregard, forgetting, ignoring, nonobservance, overlooking; delinquency, dereliction, neglect; encroachment, intrusion, invasion

Near Antonyms: respecting, upholding

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with BREACH

beach, beech, bleach, breech, each, leach, leech, peach, pleach, preach, reach, screech, speech, teach