breach
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.
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.
a gap made in a wall, fortification, line of soldiers, etc.; rift; fissure: A breach in the castle walls gave the enemy an entrance.
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.
a severance of friendly relations.
the leap of a whale above the surface of the water.
Archaic. the breaking of waves; the dashing of surf.
Obsolete. wound1.
to make a rupture or opening in: We need new ways to recover salmon without breaching the dams.
to break or act contrary to (a law, promise, etc.): The plaintiff alleges that the defendant has breached the terms of their license.
(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 about breach
more honored in the breach (than the observance),
(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.
(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.
Origin of breach
1synonym study For breach
Other words for breach
Other words from breach
- breach·er, noun
- non·breach, noun
- non·breach·ing, adjective
- un·breached, adjective
Words that may be confused with breach
- breach , breech
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use breach in a sentence
Data breaches, theft, and industrial accidents happen, and manufacturers have systems and functions in place to try to prevent them.
Zoom must also undergo a security assessment by an independent third party every two years, and notify the FTC in the event of any data breach.
Zoom settles FTC case accusing it of privacy missteps with no fine | dzanemorris | November 9, 2020 | FortuneShe was using her phone to take video of the scene at the time, as were others nearby who saw activity by fish and birds and hoped they might soon capture a whale breach, which occurs when most or all of the whale’s body leaves the water.
A pair of kayakers in California barely avoid being swallowed by a humpback whale | Des Bieler | November 4, 2020 | Washington PostBusinesses that suffer data breaches as a result of lax cybersecurity will also no longer be able to avoid fines by fixing their security holes within 30 days of a data leak.
California just passed tougher privacy rules that may reverberate nationwide | jonathanvanian2015 | November 4, 2020 | FortuneA muzzleloader is a specific class of single-shot rifle that is loaded from the open end of the barrel as opposed to through the breach, such as with a bolt action or semi-automatic rifle.
Ygritte, the red-headed wildling archer who once loved (and lost) Jon Snow, has breached the walls of Castle Black.
Game of Thrones’ 'The Watchers on the Wall': The Battle of Castle Black Is One For the Ages | Andrew Romano | June 9, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTFor history has too many examples when that trust has been breached.
The Domestic Spying of Hoover’s FBI Is an Eerie Prequel to the NSA’s Snooping Today | Betty Medsger | March 23, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe Daily Beast first reported in November that the U.S. government believes Russia has breached its treaty obligations.
Russian Foreign Minister: We Can’t Get Assad to Do Anything | Josh Rogin | February 1, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAfter several hours the mob started coming over the walls and breached one of the gates.
In Egypt’s Countryside, Vendettas Between Police and Islamists Simmer | Mike Giglio, Christopher Dickey | October 28, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTSuch a delay would put the government perilously close to default once the debt ceiling is breached on Thursday.
At last the walls on the side of the suburbs of St. Hilaire and Martainville were breached by the overwhelming fire of the enemy.
History of the Rise of the Huguenots | Henry BairdHe combined with them in an assault, and 400 French sailors and the Imperialists attacked the walls which had been breached.
The Life of Gordon, Volume I | Demetrius Charles BoulgerIts front was barred by tumbled masonry, but a well-placed shell had widely breached its side wall.
The Wrong Twin | Harry Leon WilsonAs a precaution we had previously breached the wall around the churchyard.
The Red Battle Flyer | Capt. Manfred Freiherr von RichthofenIn three weeks it breached and captured the corsair's strongholds.
British Dictionary definitions for breach
/ (briːtʃ) /
a crack, break, or rupture
a breaking, infringement, or violation of a promise, obligation, etc
any severance or separation: there was a breach between the two factions of the party
a gap in an enemy's fortifications or line of defence created by bombardment or attack
the act of a whale in breaking clear of the water
the breaking of sea waves on a shore or rock
an obsolete word for wound 1
(tr) to break through or make an opening, hole, or incursion in
(tr) to break a promise, law, etc
(intr) (of a whale) to break clear of the water
Origin of breach
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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