infringe

Universal Words verb 1 [VN] (of an action, a plan, etc.) to break a law or rule: The material can be copied without infringing copyright. * Two of the projects are deemed to infringe EU legislation. 2 ~ (on / upon) sth to limit sb's legal rights: [VN] They said that compulsory identity cards would infringe civil liberties. * [V] She refused to answer questions that infringed on her private affairs. infringement noun [U,C]: copyright infringement * an infringement of liberty / rights