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breach

Pronunciation: /briːtʃ/

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 [mass noun]:I sued for breach of contract
  • a break in relations:a widening breach between government and Church
  • 2a gap in a wall, barrier, or defence, especially one made by an attacking army: a breach in the mountain wall

verb

[with object]
  • 1make a gap in and break through (a wall, barrier, or defence):the river breached its bank
  • break or fail to observe (a law, agreement, or code of conduct): these outside bodies are bootlegging albums and breaching copyright
  • 2 [no object] (of a whale) rise and break through the surface of the water: we saw whales breaching in the distance

Phrases

breach of the peace

British public disturbance, or an act considered likely to cause one: a man was convicted of causing a breach of the peace during the demonstration

breach of promise

the action of breaking a sworn assurance to do something, formerly especially to marry someone: Anastasia cherishes the recollection of having won an action for breach of promise

step into the breach

replace someone who is suddenly unable to do a job or task: I can’t think of anyone who could step into the breach should I become ill

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 US English dictionary

Nearby words

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