- [countable, uncountable] breach of something a failure to do something that must be done by law
- a breach of contract/copyright/warranty
- They are in breach of Article 119.
- (British English) (a) breach of the peace (= the crime of behaving in a noisy or violent way in public)
- Selling goods constituted a breach of regulation 10B.
Extra ExamplesTopics Crime and punishmentc1- He was sued for breach of contract.
- The court's decision is a breach of the European Convention on human rights.
- Those found in breach of the rules may face significant fines or prison.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- clear
- fundamental
- grave
- …
- constitute
- commit
- remedy
- …
- in breach of
- breach of
- a breach of confidence
- a breach of trust
- (a) breach of confidentiality
- …
- [countable, uncountable] breach of something an action that breaks an agreement to behave in a particular way
- a breach of confidence/trust
- a breach of security (= when something that is normally protected is no longer secure)
Extra ExamplesTopics Discussion and agreementc1- Such actions constitute a breach of confidentiality.
- a minor breach of discipline
- He refused to shake hands, in deliberate breach of etiquette.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- clear
- fundamental
- grave
- …
- constitute
- commit
- remedy
- …
- in breach of
- breach of
- a breach of confidence
- a breach of trust
- (a) breach of confidentiality
- …
- [countable] a break in a relationship between people or countriesExtra Examples
- She left home following the breach with her family.
- What was the reason for the breach between the two of them?
- Diplomatic efforts to heal the breach have so far proved unsuccessful.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + breach- cause
- lead to
- heal
- …
- breach between
- breach with
- [countable] an opening that is created during a military attack or by strong winds or seas
- They escaped through a breach in the wire fence.
- There were reports of dam breaches in several areas.
- The mortars blew a large breach in the castle walls.
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French breche, ultimately of Germanic origin; related to break.
Idioms
See breach in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee breach in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishstep into the breach
- to do somebody’s job or work when they are suddenly or unexpectedly unable to do it
- She stepped into the breach caused by Stella's illness.
Check pronunciation:
breach