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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
Andrew Torgan, CNN, 4 Nov. 2024
The Securities and Exchange Commission hit him with a $20 million fine for that infraction, along with another $20 million paid by Tesla, and forced his removal as chairman of the carmaker’s board.
—Alan Ohnsman, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
Experts say cracking down on seemingly minor infractions is a way to reduce headcount without the negative publicity of layoffs and without having to pay out severance.
—Emily Peck, Axios, 1 Nov. 2024
The suspect, Jesus Cancino Garcia, 25, of Fremont, has also been charged with felony driving the wrong way on a divided highway and an infraction of being an unlicensed driver.
—Harry Harris, The Mercury News, 9 Oct. 2024
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 Nov. 2024.
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infraction
noun
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