noun

breach

/briːtʃ/ · say it: BREECH

the breaking of a law, agreement, or duty

In Law & Justice

In more detail

1. (noun) a failure to obey a law or break a promise or agreement

2. (noun) a large hole or gap in something, especially a wall or barrier

3. (verb) to break through a barrier or defense; to fail to obey a law or agreement

Examples

The company was sued for breach of contract.
Soldiers broke through the breach in the castle wall.
The security system was breached by hackers.

How to use breach

Breach commonly refers to violations of agreements, laws, or trust (especially in formal or legal contexts), and to physical breaks in barriers or walls. It is more formal than 'break' and is often used in legal, security, and administrative discourse. The noun form is more frequent than the verb.

Common phrases

breach of contract
breach of trust
breach of security
data breach
to breach the wall
plug the breach

Synonyms

violation · infringement · breaking · rupture · gap

Opposites

compliance · observance · closure

Word family

breacher (noun) · breaching (adjective/noun)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse 'breach' (a violation or gap) with 'breech' (the lower part of a gun barrel, or historical trousers), or overuse it colloquially when 'break' would be simpler.

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