breach
word
Definition
A breach is a break, gap, or failure in something that should stay whole, secure, or respected. It can refer to breaking a rule or agreement, a hole in a wall or defense, or a failure in security or privacy.
Usage & Nuances
Often used in formal, legal, business, and cybersecurity contexts: 'breach of contract', 'security breach', 'data breach'. 'Breach' is usually more serious than a simple mistake. As a verb, 'breach' means to break or violate something, but the noun is more common.
Example Sentences
The company reported a data breach last week.
basic
Breaking the deal was a breach of trust.
basic
The soldiers ran toward the breach in the wall.
basic
If they shared your password, that's a serious breach of privacy.
natural
The lawyers are arguing over whether this counts as a breach of contract.
natural
One small breach can turn into a huge security problem.
natural