Words / B2

BREECH/briːtʃ/

A breach is a break in a rule, agreement, or wall: a breach of contract, a security breach, a breach in the sea wall. Break is everyday; violation is a close formal cousin; gap works for the physical sense. Breach is also a verb (breach the rules). In speech, they broke the agreement is enough. The word is legal and serious. Do not call a forgotten comma a breach unless a contract says it is.

Meaning

A break in a rule, agreement, or wall (a breach of).

Examples

• “Leaving early was a breach of the contract.”
• “Sharing the password was a breach of the IT policy, not a shortcut.”
• “High tides found a breach in the flood wall that last year’s inspection had missed.”

Good to know

A break in a rule, deal, or wall. a breach of. Verb: breach the rules. Everyday: break. Formal: violation. Legal/serious tone.

Near in meaning

violation

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