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breach

Syllabification: (breach)
Pronunciation: /brēCH/
Translate breach | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of breach

noun

  • 1an act of breaking or failing to observe a law, agreement, or code of conduct:a breach of confidence I sued for breach of contract
  • a break in relations:a sudden breach between father and son
  • 2a gap in a wall, barrier, or defense, especially one made by an attacking army.

verb

[with object]
  • 1make a gap in and break through (a wall, barrier, or defense):the river breached its bank
  • break or fail to observe (a law, agreement, or code of conduct).
  • 2 [no object] (of a whale) rise and break through the surface of the water.

Phrases

breach of the peace

an act of violent or noisy behavior that causes a public disturbance and is considered a criminal offense.

breach of promise

the action of breaking a sworn assurance to do something, formerly especially to marry someone.

step into the breach

replace someone who is suddenly unable to do a job or task.

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French breche, ultimately of Germanic origin; related to break1

Do not confuse breach with breech. Breach means 'break an agreement or rule' (they breached the Data Protection Act), 'break through something' or 'a gap' whereas breech means 'the back part of a gun barrel'.

breach in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of breach in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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