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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.
Examples of infraction in a Sentence
Jeff Kauflin, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
An investigation by the state Department of Education found the panels denied admission to students who received disciplinary infractions at their previous schools — including for things like vaping — and disproportionately kept students with disabilities out of the CTECS system.
—Jessika Harkay, Hartford Courant, 6 Mar. 2025
Serial killers behind bars Criminal infractions of high-profile suspects are not uncommon.
—Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2025
As recently as last month, executive director William J. Johnson wrote to then-Attorney General Merrick Garland noting that minor administrative infractions shouldn't be included in the database, and that officers should have due process available to challenge being included in the data.
—Tom Jackman and Elizabeth Dwoskin The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for infraction
Cite this Entry
“Infraction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infraction. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.
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infraction
noun
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