breach

American  

[breech] / britʃ /

noun

1. the act or a result of breaking; a break or rupture.

   Many districts were flooded by the river after a breach in an embankment upstream.

   Synonyms:

   fracture

2. an infraction or violation, such as of a law, contract, trust, or promise.

   If there is a breach of the warranty, we are not liable for damage.

3. a gap made in a wall, fortification, line of soldiers, etc.; rift; fissure.

   A breach in the castle walls gave the enemy an entrance.

   Synonyms:

   opening, rent, crack

4. Digital Technology. the unauthorized acquisition, use, or disclosure of customers' or users' personal data.

   There's no indication of a data breach affecting credit card information.

5. a severance of friendly relations.

   Synonyms:

   dissension, separation, schism, rift, split, alienation

6. the leap of a whale above the surface of the water.

7. Archaic. the breaking of waves; the dashing of surf.

8. Obsolete. wound.

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verb (used with object)

1. to make a rupture or opening in.

   We need new ways to recover salmon without breaching the dams.

2. to break or act contrary to (a law, promise, etc.).

   The plaintiff alleges that the defendant has breached the terms of their license.

verb (used without object)

1. (of a whale) to leap partly or completely out of the water, head first, and land on the back or belly with a resounding splash.

idioms

1. more honored in the breach (than the observance),

   1. (of a rule, law, custom, etc.) frequently ignored or rarely carried out.

      Courtly love was just an ideal, more honored in the breach than the observance.

      Even the best advice may be more honored in the breach.

   2. (of a rule, law, custom, etc.) unjust or ignoble to the point of being better to ignore.

      They agreed that the promises made to their unfit leader would be more honored in the breach than the observance.

breach British  

/ briːtʃ /

noun

1. a crack, break, or rupture

2. a breaking, infringement, or violation of a promise, obligation, etc

3. any severance or separation

   there was a breach between the two factions of the party

4. a gap in an enemy's fortifications or line of defence created by bombardment or attack

5. the act of a whale in breaking clear of the water

6. the breaking of sea waves on a shore or rock

7. an obsolete word for wound 1

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verb

1. (tr) to break through or make an opening, hole, or incursion in

2. (tr) to break a promise, law, etc

3. (intr) (of a whale) to break clear of the water

Usage

What does breach mean? A breach is a physical break or rupture, as in the hull of a ship. It also means a violation or infraction, as in a breach of trust. It can also be used as a verb referring to the action that leads to each of these things. Breach is often used in phrases like security breach, data breach, breach of trust, breach of etiquette, and breach of contract. Example: We view these ethical violations as an unforgivable breach of the public trust, and we call on the senator to resign.

Related Words

Breach, infraction, violation, transgression all denote in some way the breaking of a rule or law or the upsetting of a normal and desired state. Breach is used infrequently in reference to laws or rules, more often in connection with desirable conditions or states of affairs: a breach of the peace, of good manners, of courtesy. Infraction most often refers to clearly formulated rules or laws: an infraction of the criminal code, of university regulations, of a labor contract. Violation, a stronger term than either of the preceding two, often suggests intentional, even forceful or aggressive, refusal to obey the law or to respect the rights of others: repeated violations of parking regulations; a human rights violation. Transgression, with its root sense of “a stepping across (of a boundary of some sort),” applies to any behavior that exceeds the limits imposed by a law, especially a moral law, a commandment, or an order; it often implies sinful behavior: a serious transgression of social customs, of God's commandments.

Other Word Forms

• breacher noun
• nonbreach noun
• nonbreaching adjective
• unbreached adjective

Etymology

Origin of breach

First recorded before 1000; Middle English breche, Old English bræc “breaking”; break ( def. )

Explanation

A breach is a violation of a law, duty, or promise. If you'd contracted to mow your neighbor's lawn and don't do it, he can sue you for breach of contract. Or he can mow the lawn himself. Breach traces back to the Old English verb: brecan, "to break," which is what breach really means — "a breaking of something." Breach of contract is a legal way of saying you broke a promise. If your great aunt Edna is a stickler for propriety, she may be horrified when you eat your meat with the salad fork, considering it a breach of good manners.

Example Sentences

The group first announced the breach on March 20.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

Cipriani alleged in a breach of oral contract and fraud lawsuit filed in March in California Superior Court that he consulted for Shell from August 2024 through February 2026.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

A Meta spokesperson told the BBC the breach was discovered over a year ago, after which the firm said it immediately fired the suspected employee and "referred the matter to law enforcement".

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

It said the investigation concerns "instigation of breach of trust, computer fraud and false attestation with the intent to obtain for another an unlawful benefit."

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

The sheriff claims the breach in the defenses has been repaired, but with the horde that Gideon described on the way, I want to see for myself.

From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland

Related Words

• contravention
• dereliction
• disregard
• infraction
• infringement
• neglect
• noncompliance
• offense
• transgression
• violation