infraction
Americannoun
-
breach; violation; infringement.
an infraction of the rules.
-
Medicine/Medical. an incomplete fracture of a bone.
Synonym Usage
See breach.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of infraction
First recorded in 1615–25, infraction is from the Latin word infrāctiōn- (stem of infrāctiō ). See infract, -ion
Explanation
When you break school rules about gum chewing, you commit an infraction. An infraction is a petty crime or a minor breaking of rules. When you think of the word infraction, think that your offence has just crossed the line into wrong. Something like a parking ticket is an infraction. When you commit an infraction, you're not knee deep in wrong, you've just dipped your toe into wrong to see what it feels like. A misdemeanor is a more serious crime such as theft, and murder is considered a felony, the most serious of crimes.
Vocabulary lists containing infraction
The Giver
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Give Me a Break!: Fract and Frag
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Tangerine
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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.
See Examples For:
Thomas explained that illegally parking in a bike lane has always been an infraction, and this system is just helping to hold citizens accountable.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
In other words, faculty can be fired for whatever infraction the school’s governing board decides is a fireable one.
From Salon ● Jun. 20, 2026
When they were flagged for defensive pass interference against Oregon on Friday night, it marked only their third such infraction this season—in their 15th game.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 11, 2026
There was another Blanche infraction this week that is, in many ways, equally shocking, even if it’s not getting the kind of press traction that the Maxwell interview did.
From Slate ● Nov. 14, 2025
Jonas said the standard phrase automatically, and tried to pay better attention while his mother told of a dream fragment, a disquieting scene where she had been chastised for a rule infraction she didn’t understand.
From "The Giver" by Lois Lowry
Fines for such infractions in West Newport Beach and the Peninsula — dubbed safety enhancement zones — will be tripled through July 6.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 5, 2026
Though she assures readers that students do suffer consequences, including suspension, for infractions, the goal at HVA is for students to understand what they have done wrong and to make amends.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 12, 2026
And EPA data shows that its pattern of reported infractions has continued in recent years.
From Salon ● May 10, 2026
What if they acknowledge the president can fire for cause, but simply argue that infractions must occur when a governor is in office?
From Barron's ● Jan. 13, 2026
“Chaplain,” he continued, looking up, “we accuse you also of the commission of crimes and infractions we don’t even know about yet. Guilty or innocent?”
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
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.
