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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.
Examples of infraction in a Sentence
Dan Gelston, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2025
The driver of the Lexus was issued an infraction for failure to grant the right of way, according to Johnson.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 2 June 2025
Soliman also interacted with Colorado Springs police in connection with two minor traffic infractions in 2023, a department spokesperson said.
—Evan Perez, CNN Money, 2 June 2025
Baksh lost 27 other days’ pay for other infractions, including working a security job without department approval, being late to a transit post and making logbook errors.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for infraction
Cite this Entry
“Infraction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infraction. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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infraction
noun
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