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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
Paul Solotaroff, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2025
Precise evidence of Moscow’s infractions will be key to helping Ukraine and Europe respond to the inevitable wave of Russian misinformation and recrimination that may accompany a truce.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 10 May 2025
As an enforcement mechanism for this new food container prohibition, SB 1531 imposes a $1,000 fine for all infractions beyond the first one.
—Patrick Gleason, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
The 2023 numbers show 62% of stops led to verbal or written warnings, 31% to infractions and 4% to misdemeanor summons.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 9 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 21 May. 2025.
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infraction
noun
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