infringe

verb

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in·fringe | \ in-ˈfrinj

infringed; infringing

Definition of infringe

transitive verb

1 : to encroach upon in a way that violates law or the rights of another infringe a patent

2 obsolete : defeat, frustrate

intransitive verb

: encroach —used with on or upon infringe on our rights

Other Words from infringe Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More About infringe

Choose the Right Synonym for infringe

trespass, encroach, infringe, invade mean to make inroads upon the property, territory, or rights of another. trespass implies an unwarranted or unlawful intrusion. hunters trespassing on farmland encroach suggests gradual or stealthy entrance upon another's territory or usurpation of another's rights or possessions. the encroaching settlers displacing the native peoples infringe implies an encroachment clearly violating a right or prerogative. infringing a copyright invade implies a hostile and injurious entry into the territory or sphere of another. accused of invading their privacy

Examples of infringe in a Sentence

They claim that his use of the name infringes their copyright. Her rights must not be infringed.

Recent Examples on the Web Intellectual property rights pertain to products that infringe upon U.S. trademarks, copyrights and patents. — Bradford Betz, Fox News, 26 Apr. 2022 Your Coins Act limits the government’s ability to infringe an individual’s property rights and privacy. — Tomas J. Philipson, National Review, 14 Mar. 2022 Musk has targeted those policies in the past, in part by implying that Twitter’s content moderation practices infringe on free speech. — Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2022 Critics say declawing is already rare, though, and that the measure would infringe on the judgment of veterinarians. — Scott Dance, Baltimore Sun, 4 Apr. 2022 Ruto said some of the proposals, including creating more positions at the top, wouldn’t necessarily foster national cohesion while introducing a judicial ombudsman would infringe on the independence of the judiciary. — David Herbling, Bloomberg.com, 31 Mar. 2022 Current laws in the region discriminate against the Rohingya, and infringe on their freedom of movement, education and employment, according to Human Rights Watch. — Alexandra Meeks, CNN, 21 Mar. 2022 Do climate change regulations infringe on state authority? — Albert C. Lin, The Conversation, 17 Feb. 2022 Like former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, Flynn is also asserting the subpoenas for his records are overbroad, serve no legislative purpose, and infringe on his rights. — Robert Legare, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'infringe.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries Near infringe

infrigidate

infringe

infringement

Statistics for infringe

Last Updated

5 May 2022

Cite this Entry

“Infringe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infringe. Accessed 21 May. 2022.

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More Definitions for infringe

infringe

verb

in·fringe | \ in-ˈfrinj

infringed; infringing

Kids Definition of infringe

1 : to fail to obey or act in agreement with : violate infringe a law

2 : to go further than is right or fair to another : encroach

infringe

verb

in·fringe | \ in-ˈfrinj

infringed; infringing

Legal Definition of infringe

transitive verb

: to encroach upon in a way that violates law or the rights of another the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed — U.S. Constitution amend. II especially : to violate a holder's rights under (a copyright, patent, trademark, or trade name)

intransitive verb

: encroach