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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
Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 2 Aug. 2025
Such infractions include pest and vermin infestations; accumulations of trash and debris; and structural issues that are not addressed quickly.
—Ella McCarthy, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
Attorney Phillip Arroyo said his client, a longtime U.S. resident and DACA recipient, was transferred to the prison despite facing only a minor traffic infraction, and was then denied medical care after falling ill.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 July 2025
Communities generally impose fines for violations involving parking, excessive noise, pets, property improvements without prior approval, lease infractions, rule violations involving the use of community amenities, and maintenance issues.
—L. Chere Trigg, Miami Herald, 17 July 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 20 Aug. 2025.
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infraction
noun
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