infringe

B2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ɪnˈfɹɪnd͡ʒ/ See IPA manual

Freq #60304

Meanings

1

verb
To break or violate a law, agreement, or someone's rights.

The company was sued for infringing the patent.
2

verb
To intrude on or limit something, especially a freedom or right.

The new rules infringe on our right to free speech.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to break or violate a law,... flout conflict

2 verb · to intrude on or limit... impinge encroach

Word family

Forms infringedinfringesinfringing

Derived forms infringeableinfringedinfringeeinfringement infringer

Related forms infraction

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin infringere (“to break off, break, bruise, weaken, destroy”), from in (“in”) + frangere (“to break”).

*bʰreg- Proto-Indo-European infringere Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# infringe

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ɪnˈfɹɪnd͡ʒ/
**Frequency rank:** 60304

## Meanings
1. To break or violate a law, agreement, or someone's rights.
2. To intrude on or limit something, especially a freedom or right.

## Examples
- The company was sued for infringing the patent.
- The new rules infringe on our right to free speech.

## Derived Forms
- infringeable
- infringed
- infringee
- infringement
- infringer

## Related Forms
- infraction

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *bʰreg-
- Root: infringere

## Etymology
Borrowed from Latin infringere (“to break off, break, bruise, weaken, destroy”), from in (“in”) + frangere (“to break”).

## AI Etymology
Infringe is borrowed from Latin infringere (“to break off, break, bruise, weaken, destroy”), from in (“in”) + frangere (“to break”). The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern verbal form is built from the named base and affix. The historical line also includes *bʰreg-.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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