infraction
Americannoun
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breach; violation; infringement.
an infraction of the rules.
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Medicine/Medical. an incomplete fracture of a bone.
Related Words
See breach.
Other Word Forms
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.
When they were flagged for defensive pass interference against Oregon on Friday night, it marked only their third such infraction this season—in their 15th game.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 11, 2026
Facing fourth down and four, the Chargers were one more stop away from winning when a neutral-zone infraction on Odafe Oweh gave the Eagles a new set of downs.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2025
But a car either complies or it does not, no matter how infinitesimal the infraction.
From BBC • Nov. 23, 2025
There was another Blanche infraction this week that is, in many ways, equally shocking, even if it’s not getting the kind of press traction that the Maxwell interview did.
From Slate • Nov. 14, 2025
Or does he sit up nights searching out a Verse for every potential infraction, and store this ammunition at the ready for his daughters?
From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver
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.
