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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
Matt Robison, Newsweek, 20 Nov. 2024
Justice courts handle misdemeanor crimes, protective orders, evictions, traffic infractions and smaller-dollar civil matters.
—Jimmy Jenkins, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
Iranian women can be subjected to harsh punishment, even for minor infractions.
—Mohammed Tawfeeq, CNN, 3 Nov. 2024
Enabled by a softening labor market, employers seem quicker to fire workers these days for seemingly minor infractions.
—Emily Peck, Axios, 1 Nov. 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 29 Nov. 2024.
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infraction
noun
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