Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

breach of contract

American  

noun

  1. unexcused failure to fulfill one's duties under a contract.

breach of contract Cultural  

  1. Failure to live up to the terms of a contract. The failure may provoke a lawsuit, in which an aggrieved party asks a court to award financial compensation for the loss brought about by the breach.

Etymology

Origin of breach of contract

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

That left in place three claims - breach of contract, retaliation, and aiding and abetting in retaliation - with a civil trial in New York scheduled for 18 May.

From BBC • May 4, 2026

The trial will therefore focus on three smaller claims, including breach of contract and two relating to Lively’s allegations of retaliation.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 30, 2026

Other than that, it’s a breach of contract if a contractor walks off the job.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 25, 2026

The appeals court said Friday that breach of contract claims made by these companies were not recognizable under Argentine law.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

“Regardless of how you feel about the rules, with this breach of contract, the challenge is terminated immediately.”

From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.