infraction
Americannoun
-
breach; violation; infringement.
an infraction of the rules.
-
Medicine/Medical. an incomplete fracture of a bone.
Synonym Usage
See breach.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of infraction
First recorded in 1615–25, infraction is from the Latin word infrāctiōn- (stem of infrāctiō ). See infract, -ion
Explanation
When you break school rules about gum chewing, you commit an infraction. An infraction is a petty crime or a minor breaking of rules. When you think of the word infraction, think that your offence has just crossed the line into wrong. Something like a parking ticket is an infraction. When you commit an infraction, you're not knee deep in wrong, you've just dipped your toe into wrong to see what it feels like. A misdemeanor is a more serious crime such as theft, and murder is considered a felony, the most serious of crimes.
Vocabulary lists containing infraction
The Giver
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Give Me a Break!: Fract and Frag
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Tangerine
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Alireza Faghani, the Australian referee, missed the infraction in real-time, but produced a red card after consulting with the video replay.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
In other words, faculty can be fired for whatever infraction the school’s governing board decides is a fireable one.
From Salon ● Jun. 20, 2026
And without an umpire watching closely — or without video evidence — that kind of infraction can be difficult to spot.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 17, 2026
But a car either complies or it does not, no matter how infinitesimal the infraction.
From BBC ● Nov. 23, 2025
At the first verbal warning, remove the first tab; repeat for a second infraction.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
Fines for such infractions in West Newport Beach and the Peninsula — dubbed safety enhancement zones — will be tripled from July 3 through July 6.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 5, 2026
And EPA data shows that its pattern of reported infractions has continued in recent years.
From Salon ● May 10, 2026
What if they acknowledge the president can fire for cause, but simply argue that infractions must occur when a governor is in office?
From Barron's ● Jan. 13, 2026
They committed 10 infractions for 74 yards, including several that extended Ole Miss drives.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 9, 2026
Their parents are called and lunch detentions are handed out, along with Saturday school for those with previous infractions.
From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
