noun
breach
BREECH
noun
1
A failure to follow a law, agreement, or rule.
"Leaking the client's data was a serious breach of confidentiality."
"The company was sued for breach of contract."
2
A gap made by breaking through something solid, such as a wall or defence.
"Soldiers poured through the breach in the castle wall."
verb
1
To break through or violate something.
"Hackers breached the company's servers overnight."
"The flood breached the river's embankment."
How to Use Breach
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBreaking a rule, agreement, or physical barrier — used for anything from data leaks to burst river banks.
Common pairings
data breach
breach of contract
security breach
breach the wall
Word Forms
breached past tense, breaches plural, breaches singular
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Leaking the client's data was a serious _____ of confidentiality.
Etymology
From Old English bryce and brǣc ("a breaking"), related to the verb "break."