What is infringe? How to use in English

Discover the meaning of infringe in English, its pronunciation, and how to use it correctly in real-life situations. See examples and easy memorization tips.

Definition & pronunciation of infringe

infringeverb

xâm phạm

/ɪnˈfrɪndʒ//ɪnˈfrɪndʒ/

Where does the word infringe come from?

The origins of the word "infringe" can be traced back to the medieval Latin phrase "infringere," which means "to break or violate." The phrase was used to describe the act of breaking or disregarding a law or a rule, and it was commonly used in legal contexts. Over time, the Latin term evolved into the Middle English word "infrenge" in the late 14th century, which was commonly used to describe the act of violating a legal right or a customary practice. In the 16th century, the word "infringe" began to replace "infrenge" in English usage due to the simplification of the spelling and pronunciation of the word. The modern English usage of "infringe" to describe the violation of a law or a right is a direct descendant of the medieval Latin term "infringere."

Vocabulary summary infringe

typeverb

meaning(: upon) violate (the law...); invade (someone's privacy...)

Example of vocabulary infringenamespace

meaning

to break a law or rule

  • The material can be copied without infringing copyright.
  • Two of the projects are deemed to infringe EU legislation.
  • The actions of the competing company clearly infringe on our patent, and we are taking legal action to defend our intellectual property rights.
  • The use of our brand name without permission is a blatant infringement of our trademark rights.
  • The unlicensed reproduction of our copyrighted materials is a grave infringement of our intellectual property.
meaning

to limit somebody’s legal rights

  • They said that compulsory identity cards would infringe civil liberties.
  • She refused to answer questions that infringed on her private affairs.

Synonyms and related words for infringe

Comment ()