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.
speeding is only a minor infraction, but vehicular homicide is a serious felony
Recent Examples on the WebThe Commission’s list of AliExpress’s potential DSA infractions is painfully long, so here are a few highlights.—David Meyer, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2024 Included in that evidence were restraint logs, surveillance footage of abuse and excessive force and infraction records.—Corin Cesaric, Peoplemag, 3 Mar. 2024 After the victim's date turned sour, police conducted surveillance on Wright before pulling her over for a traffic infraction and finding narcotics in her car.—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 3 Mar. 2024 The preliminary injunction would seemingly also halt an NCAA infractions case against Florida State.—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 24 Feb. 2024 Should the bill become law as it’s written now, those who violate the prohibition could be charged with a misdemeanor or infraction.—Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Orange County Register, 12 Feb. 2024 Anyone violating the law could be charged with a misdemeanor crime or infraction.—Ethan Varian, The Mercury News, 7 Feb. 2024 By the time of his death, his associates said, he had been held for 300 days in solitary penalty cells for alleged infractions, adding to the stress on his system.—Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 16 Feb. 2024 Schools are flying too close to the sun on NIL and then complaining when the NCAA initiates infractions cases to Florida State and Tennessee, with lots more in the pipeline.—Dan Wolken, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'infraction.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Medieval Latin infraction-, infractio, from Latin, subduing, from infringere to break — more at infringe
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