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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.
Synonyms
Examples of infraction in a Sentence
Sarah Freishtat, Chicago Tribune, 16 Jan. 2025
Hubbard would routinely punish members of the organization who committed minor infractions by binding them, blindfolding them, and throwing them overboard into icy waters.
—Lila Shapiro, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2025
This bill weaponizes the justice system to incarcerate immigrants for minor infractions, empowers extremists to rewrite immigration policy, and tears apart families who have long called this country home.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Bosa was called for neutral zone infractions on back-to-back plays.
—Daniel Popper, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for infraction 
Dictionary Entries Near infraction
Cite this Entry
“Infraction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infraction. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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infraction
noun
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