infringement

noun

in·​fringe·​ment in-ˈfrinj-mənt 

1

: the act of infringing : violation

2

: an encroachment or trespass on a right or privilege

Synonyms of infringement

• violation

Examples of infringement in a Sentence

any government action limiting freedom of speech is an infringement of the U.S. Constitution

Recent Examples on the Web

Instead of discrediting infringement arguments, this year generative AI company Bria launched Fibo, a tool that pays artist royalties to the creators of the original references. — Rae Witte, Time, 15 Oct. 2026

That followed a patent infringement suit brought by the biotech company Halozyme Therapeutics over its own subcutaneous drug delivery platform. — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026

As the fiery debate surrounding AI and copyright infringement continues to boil, the software world has run into its own controversy head first. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 14 Oct. 2026

Our maisons handle trademark infringement in many countries very regularly, including China. — Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for infringement

• impingement

Legal Definition

infringement

noun

in·​fringe·​ment

: the act or an instance of infringing

especially : the unauthorized use of copyrighted or patented material or of a trademark, trade name, or trade dress see also equivalent, fair use

Note: Infringement of a trademark, trade name, or trade dress involves use of one by the infringer that is the same as that of the owner or so similar that it is likely to deceive or to cause confusion or mistake on the part of the average purchaser. Infringement of a copyright involves the copying of a material and substantial portion of the protected work. If the alleged infringer denies copying, the copyright holder may be able to prove infringement with circumstantial evidence of the infringer's access to the protected work and of similarities between the two works.