breach
noun
Breach — the failure to honor a promise, duty, or formal obligation
Definition
A failure to perform some promised act or obligation
In depth
A breach is a failure to perform some promised act or obligation, the violation of a formal commitment, agreement, or trust. The word carries significant legal and relational weight, naming not merely an unmet expectation but the specific violation of a binding promise or duty that had been formally or implicitly agreed upon.
Origin
The word descends from Old French breche, a break or gap, related to Old English brecan, to break. That underlying image of a literal break or gap remains vivid in the word's modern uses, a breach of contract or trust conceived as a tear in what had previously been an intact, binding agreement.
Usage examples
"The breach of contract led to a lengthy and costly legal dispute between the two companies."
"Her breach of confidence, however unintentional, permanently damaged a friendship built over decades."
"The security breach exposed sensitive information belonging to millions of customers."
How to use it
Breach is essential vocabulary across legal, security, and relationship-focused writing, carrying the specific implication of violating a formal or implied obligation rather than merely falling short of a general expectation.
Related concepts
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