breach
/briːtʃ/ (bre, ipa) · /briːtʃ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbrēch/ (ame, mw)
breach — noun
1. a failure to keep a rule, a promise, or a duty, or an act that damages trust or
a failure to keep a rule, a promise, or a duty, or an act that damages trust or loyalty between people
Missing two safety checks was a serious breach of company rules.
breach of + rules
The leaked emails were seen as a painful breach of trust.
Late payment counts as a breach of the rental agreement.
The secret meeting was viewed as a breach of loyalty.
- compliance
means acting in the way a rule or agreement requires
- loyalty
focuses on keeping trust rather than damaging it
文法句型
breach of + contract/rules/trust/duty
用法筆記
Common after of, especially with trust, duty, contract, promise, and rules. Distinguish from sense 3: this sense names the broken act itself, while sense 3 usually appears after be in breach of and focuses on the ongoing condition.
常見錯誤
2. shouting, fighting, or similar trouble somewhere open to everyone that disturbs
shouting, fighting, or similar trouble somewhere open to everyone that disturbs people nearby
Police arrested two fans for breach of the peace after the match.
legal phrase: breach of the peace
The judge fined Omar for a breach of the peace outside town hall.
Shouting at strangers in the square can become a breach of the peace.
Officers warned the crowd that more pushing could mean breach of the peace.
- disturbance
broader and less legal, covering any noisy trouble
- disorder
formal word for a lack of public order
- riot
much stronger and suggests a large violent crowd
文法句型
breach of the peace
用法筆記
Usually found in the fixed legal phrase breach of the peace in police and court language.
常見錯誤
3. the condition of not meeting a rule, contract, or official limit
the condition of not meeting a rule, contract, or official limit
The factory was in breach of safety rules after the alarm test failed.
phrase: in breach of + rules
By Friday, the landlord was in breach of the lease.
The club remained in breach of fire limits for three weeks.
Team Blue was in breach of the time rule again.
- non-compliance
formal and often used for rules or official standards
- violation
names the broken rule itself more than the ongoing condition
- default
often used when a person or company has not met a contractual duty
- compliance
means meeting the rule or condition
- observance
formal word for following a rule carefully
文法句型
be in breach of + rule/contract/limit
用法筆記
Almost always follows be and is usually followed by of. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 3 describes the state of not meeting a rule or contract, not the single act that caused it.
常見錯誤
4. a place where a wall, gate, sea defence, or similar barrier is broken open, leav
a place where a wall, gate, sea defence, or similar barrier is broken open, leaving a gap
By noon, the cannon fire had opened a breach in the wall.
breach in + wall
Storm waves cut a breach through the sea wall overnight.
Soldiers rushed toward the breach before the gate fell.
Engineers filled the breach with sandbags before high tide.
文法句型
breach in + wall/defence
用法筆記
Often used in military writing and with in after the noun, as in a breach in the wall.
常見錯誤
breach — verb
1. to go against a rule or law, or to not keep an agreement, a promise, or a duty
to go against a rule or law, or to not keep an agreement, a promise, or a duty
The company breached its promise to repair every damaged roof.
breach + promise/rule/agreement
Aiko breached school rules by posting the exam online.
The bank was fined after it breached customer privacy laws.
Walking out early would breach our agreement with the coach.
文法句型
breach a law
breach a rule
breach a contract
breach a promise
用法筆記
Formal and usually takes the law, rule, promise, or contract directly as its object. In everyday speech, break is often used instead of breach.
常見錯誤
2. to force a hole through a wall, gate, fence, or defence so that something can ge
to force a hole through a wall, gate, fence, or defence so that something can get past it
The army breached the outer wall before sunrise.
breach + wall/gate/defence
Rescue crews breached the locked door to reach the child.
Heavy waves breached the old sea fence during the storm.
The tank breached the gate in less than a minute.
- break through
the everyday multi-word choice for getting through a barrier
- pierce
suggests making a narrow hole through something
- smash
focuses on violent force rather than the gap created
文法句型
breach a wall
breach a gate
breach a door
breach defences
用法筆記
Usually takes a physical barrier directly as its object, such as wall, gate, door, or defences. Common in military writing, but it can also be used for rescue work or storm damage.