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
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Earnhardt, who won NASCAR’s most-popular driver award 15 times, made a pit stop from his day job as team owner at JR Motorsports with normal crew chief Mardy Lindley suspended one race because of a lug-nut infraction this month at Nashville.—Dan Gelston, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2025 The driver of the Lexus was issued an infraction for failure to grant the right of way, according to Johnson.—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 2 June 2025 Soliman also interacted with Colorado Springs police in connection with two minor traffic infractions in 2023, a department spokesperson said.—Evan Perez, CNN Money, 2 June 2025 Baksh lost 27 other days’ pay for other infractions, including working a security job without department approval, being late to a transit post and making logbook errors.—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 28 May 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
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