C1 adjective Formal

breach

/briːtʃ/

A serious violation or failure to observe a law, agreement, or standard of conduct. It can also refer to a physical gap or rupture made in a protective wall, barrier, or defense system.

Examples

3 of 5
1

The dog managed to find a small breach in the garden fence and escaped into the woods.

The dog managed to find a small breach in the garden fence and escaped into the woods.

2

The defendant was found liable for a material breach of contract after failing to deliver the goods on time.

The defendant was found liable for a material breach of contract after failing to deliver the goods on time.

3

Sharing my secret with the whole group was a major breach of trust.

Sharing my secret with the whole group was a major breach of trust.

Word Family

Noun
breach
Verb
breach
Adjective
breached
Related
breaker
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Memory Tip

Think of a 'breach' as a 'break' in a wall or a 'break' in a legal agreement; both 'breach' and 'break' start with 'bre'.

Quick Quiz

The investigation revealed a significant ______ of security protocols at the research facility.

Correct!

The correct answer is: breach

Examples

1

The dog managed to find a small breach in the garden fence and escaped into the woods.

everyday

The dog managed to find a small breach in the garden fence and escaped into the woods.

2

The defendant was found liable for a material breach of contract after failing to deliver the goods on time.

formal

The defendant was found liable for a material breach of contract after failing to deliver the goods on time.

3

Sharing my secret with the whole group was a major breach of trust.

informal

Sharing my secret with the whole group was a major breach of trust.

4

The study analyzes how the ethical breach occurred during the clinical trial phase.

academic

The study analyzes how the ethical breach occurred during the clinical trial phase.

5

The recent data breach compromised the personal information of over five million customers.

business

The recent data breach compromised the personal information of over five million customers.

Word Family

Noun
breach
Verb
breach
Adjective
breached
Related
breaker

Common Collocations

breach of contract breach of contract
security breach security breach
breach of trust breach of trust
data breach data breach
breach of protocol breach of protocol

Common Phrases

step into the breach

to take over a task or role when the person normally responsible for it is absent

breach of the peace

a legal term for noisy or violent behavior in public

breach of promise

historically, the failure to marry someone after promising to do so

Often Confused With

breach vs breech

Breech refers to the back part of a gun barrel or a baby born feet-first; breach refers to a violation or a gap.

breach vs bridge

A bridge connects two things, while a breach is a break or gap between them.

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Usage Notes

The word is primarily used in legal, professional, or technical contexts to describe the breaking of rules or security. It is more formal than 'break' or 'gap'.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often misspell it as 'breech' when referring to legal violations. It is also sometimes incorrectly used for minor social mistakes; it usually implies a serious or formal failure.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of a 'breach' as a 'break' in a wall or a 'break' in a legal agreement; both 'breach' and 'break' start with 'bre'.

📖

Word Origin

Derived from the Old French 'breche', which comes from the Frankish word for 'breaking' or 'fragment'.

Grammar Patterns

used as a countable noun: 'a breach of...' used as a transitive verb: 'to breach the walls' often followed by the preposition 'of'
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Cultural Context

In Anglo-American law, 'breach of contract' is a fundamental concept used to resolve commercial disputes.

Quick Quiz

The investigation revealed a significant ______ of security protocols at the research facility.

Correct!

The correct answer is: breach

Related Words

subservtude

C1

To relegate something or someone to a subordinate, secondary, or submissive position in relation to another. It involves the active process of making an interest, person, or entity serve a higher or more dominant power.

inbioery

C1

The practice or industry of utilizing biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives to manufacture products and provide services at an industrial scale. It specifically refers to the integration of biotechnology within industrial frameworks to create sustainable alternatives to traditional chemical manufacturing.

hypergraphal

C1

To structure, analyze, or represent complex data sets using the principles of hypergraphs, where single connections can link multiple entities simultaneously. This verb describes the action of mapping multi-way relationships that exceed the capacity of traditional binary graphs.

resedancy

C1

To live or have one's permanent home in a particular place, or to be inherent or present in a specific person, quality, or legal power. It is a more formal term than 'live' and is often used in legal, political, or technical contexts.

exstaship

C1

Describing a state of profound, transcendent joy and communal connection that elevates the individual beyond their ordinary experience. It is often used in philosophical or psychological contexts to characterize a sense of unified elation within a group or relationship.

microsimiltion

C1

Describing a modeling or analytical approach that focuses on the behavior of individual units or agents within a system to predict aggregate outcomes. It is used to characterize high-resolution simulations that account for granular details rather than broad generalizations.

overdocible

C1

An adjective describing someone who is excessively teachable or overly compliant to a fault. It implies a level of submissiveness that prevents a person from questioning instructions or exercising independent judgment.

circumsistency

C1

The state or quality of being circumstantial, referring to the detailed and specific conditions surrounding an event or situation. It describes the meticulous attention to the context and particularities of a moment rather than general or abstract principles.

exheredive

C1

To formally and legally disinherit an heir or exclude them from receiving a portion of a deceased person's estate. This action typically involves a specific clause in a will that explicitly removes a person's natural right to inheritance.

misciscy

C1

Misciscy refers to the state or quality of being composed of diverse, varied, or unrelated elements gathered together into a single entity. It is typically used in technical or academic contexts to describe a collection that lacks a singular unifying theme but possesses a broad range of components.

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