infringement

noun

in·​fringe·​ment in-ˈfrinj-mənt 

1

: the act of infringing : violation

2

: an encroachment or trespass on a right or privilege

Synonyms

• breach
• contravention
• infraction
• transgression
• trespass
• violation

Examples of infringement in a Sentence

any government action limiting freedom of speech is an infringement of the U.S. Constitution

Recent Examples on the Web

Judge Aileen Cannon began presiding over a second copyright infringement lawsuit involving Taylor Swift on Thursday. —Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Mar. 2025

Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, is being sued for copyright infringement. —Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2025

Merton is the latest in a long line of musicians who have sued West for copyright infringement. —Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 26 Mar. 2025

Now she has been cleared of any copyright infringement in a U.S. court ruling made Wednesday. —Caroline Frost, Deadline, 22 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for infringement

• impingement

Legal Definition

infringement

noun

in·​fringe·​ment

: the act or an instance of infringing

especially : the unauthorized use of copyrighted or patented material or of a trademark, trade name, or trade dress see also equivalent, fair use

Note: Infringement of a trademark, trade name, or trade dress involves use of one by the infringer that is the same as that of the owner or so similar that it is likely to deceive or to cause confusion or mistake on the part of the average purchaser. Infringement of a copyright involves the copying of a material and substantial portion of the protected work. If the alleged infringer denies copying, the copyright holder may be able to prove infringement with circumstantial evidence of the infringer's access to the protected work and of similarities between the two works.