What Does “Infringe on sth” Mean?
“Infringe on sth” means to violate or limit someone’s rights, laws, or personal space. It often refers to breaking rules or interfering with something that belongs to someone else.
Introduction
The phrase infringe on sth is commonly used in English to describe actions that violate laws, rights, or personal boundaries. Understanding the infringe on sth meaning helps learners recognize when someone is crossing limits, especially in legal or social contexts. For example, if a company uses another person’s copyrighted material without permission, they are said to infringe on their copyright. This phrase is useful in both formal and informal settings, making it an important expression to learn. It highlights situations where respect for rules or rights is ignored or broken.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: infringe on something
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to break or violate a rule, right, or law
Structure (Grammar Rules)
The phrasal verb infringe on sth is inseparable. This means you cannot place the object between “infringe” and “on.” The object always follows the preposition “on.”
Correct pattern:
infringe on + noun (something)
Examples:
- They infringed on our privacy.
- Don’t infringe on her rights.
How to Use “Infringe on sth”?
You use infringe on sth when talking about someone breaking or limiting rights, laws, or freedoms. It often appears in legal, social, or ethical discussions. The phrase emphasizes that an action negatively affects another person’s or group’s protected interests. It can also apply to personal space or time.
Example uses include:
- Infringing on copyrights
- Infringing on privacy
- Infringing on freedom of speech
- Infringing on personal boundaries
Examples
Imagine a company uses a photo without permission. You can say:
- The company infringed on the photographer’s copyright.
- By recording the meeting secretly, he infringed on our privacy.
- New rules should not infringe on workers’ rights.
- She felt the neighbors infringed on her personal space.
- The law prohibits anyone from infringing on freedom of expression.
Common Mistakes
Many learners confuse the placement of the object or use the wrong preposition.
- Incorrect: They infringed the copyright.
Correct: They infringed on the copyright. - Incorrect: He infringed privacy.
Correct: He infringed on privacy.
Remember, always use “infringe on” followed by the object.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrases include “violate,” “breach,” and “encroach on.” While all suggest breaking rules or limits, “infringe on” often relates specifically to rights or laws.
- Violate: More general; can relate to rules, laws, or agreements.
- Breach: Often used for contracts or agreements.
- Encroach on: Usually refers to physical space or rights being gradually taken.
Example: Encroaching on privacy means slowly invading someone’s personal space, while infringing on privacy implies a clear violation.
Common Collocations
Here are common nouns that follow “infringe on”:
- Rights – legal or human rights
- Privacy – personal or data privacy
- Copyright – intellectual property
- Freedom – such as freedom of speech or movement
- Space – personal or physical space
Real-life Dialogue
Here is a short conversation using “infringe on sth”:
Anna: I think the new law infringes on our freedom of speech.
Tom: Yes, it limits what we can say in public.
Anna: That’s why many people are protesting.
Tom: They want to protect their rights and avoid infringement.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
- a) The company infringed the patent rights.
- b) The company infringed on the patent rights.
- c) The company infringed patent rights on.
Answer: b) The company infringed on the patent rights.
Fill in the blank:
The new policy __________ on employees’ privacy.
- a) infringes
- b) infringes on
- c) infringed
Answer: b) infringes on
FAQs
- What does “infringe on sth” mean?
It means to violate or break a rule, right, or law. - Is “infringe on” separable?
No, it is inseparable; the object always comes after “on.” - Can I say “infringe sth” without “on”?
No, “infringe” needs the preposition “on” before the object. - Is “infringe on” formal or informal?
It is more formal, often used in legal or serious contexts. - What are some common collocations with “infringe on”?
Rights, privacy, copyright, freedom, and space.
