Explanation at your level:
A breach is a hole. Imagine a wall with a hole in it. That is a breach. You can also have a breach of a rule. If you break a rule, that is a breach.
When something is broken, we call it a breach. It is often used for security. If a hacker gets into a computer, it is a data breach. It is a serious word.
You will often see this word in news reports. A breach of contract means someone did not follow a legal agreement. It can also mean a physical gap in a wall or a dam.
In professional settings, breach is used to describe a failure to uphold a standard. Whether it is a security breach or a breach of professional conduct, it implies a negative consequence.
The term is highly versatile in formal discourse. Beyond the literal physical rupture, it serves as a powerful metaphor for the erosion of trust or the violation of established social norms.
Etymologically linked to the Germanic 'break', breach maintains a sense of violent or unauthorized separation. In literary contexts, it may even refer to a rift in relationships, carrying a heavy weight of finality.
Wort in 30 Sekunden
- It means a break.
- Used for walls.
- Used for rules.
- Formal tone.
Hey there! Let's talk about the word breach. Think of it as a moment where something that was supposed to be solid or secure suddenly isn't anymore.
You can use it for physical things, like a breach in a dam where water starts pouring through. But it is also super common in professional or legal settings, like a breach of contract, which just means someone didn't do what they promised.
The word breach actually comes from the Old English word bryce, which is related to the word break. It shares roots with Old High German and Middle Dutch words that all essentially mean 'to break' or 'to fracture'.
Historically, it was often used in military contexts to describe a hole made in a castle wall during a siege. Over time, the meaning expanded from just physical holes to metaphorical ones, like breaking a law or a social code.
In daily life, you will hear breach used most often in serious contexts. We talk about a data breach when hackers get into a system, or a breach of privacy.
It is definitely a formal word. You wouldn't say 'I had a breach of my sandwich'—that would be weird! Instead, stick to using it when rules, agreements, or physical defenses are involved.
1. Step into the breach: To take over a task for someone who is struggling or absent. Example: 'When the manager quit, Sarah stepped into the breach to lead the team.'
2. Breach of peace: A legal term for causing a public disturbance. Example: 'He was arrested for a breach of the peace.'
3. Breach of trust: When someone breaks a promise or confidence. Example: 'Her lying was a total breach of trust.'
4. Breach of contract: Failing to perform a legal agreement. Example: 'The company sued for breach of contract.'
5. Breach of etiquette: Doing something socially unacceptable. Example: 'It was a major breach of etiquette to arrive so late.'
The word breach is both a noun and a verb. As a verb, you can say 'The soldiers breached the wall.' As a noun, it's 'The breach was repaired.'
The IPA is /briːtʃ/. It rhymes with speech, reach, and leech. It is a one-syllable word, so keep it snappy!
Fun Fact
It was used in medieval times for castle walls.
Pronunciation Guide
Long 'ee' sound
Long 'ee' sound
Common Errors
- Pronouncing it like 'bratch'
- Confusing with 'breech'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
easy
moderate
easy
easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Fortgeschritten
Grammar to Know
Noun/Verb usage
The breach (n) / To breach (v)
Examples by Level
There is a breach in the wall.
breach = hole
Noun usage.
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...
...
...
...
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The hacker caused a data breach.
They found a breach in the fence.
The contract was a breach.
He was in breach of the rules.
The dam had a breach.
It was a breach of security.
They fixed the breach.
Don't make a breach.
The company reported a major security breach.
He was sued for breach of contract.
The soldiers breached the gate.
There was a breach of trust between them.
The flood was caused by a breach in the levee.
She apologized for the breach of etiquette.
The agreement was a breach of policy.
They identified the breach quickly.
The breach of privacy was taken very seriously.
They had to seal the breach in the hull.
The diplomat committed a breach of protocol.
The breach of the peace led to his arrest.
We cannot ignore such a clear breach of standards.
The breach of the dam caused widespread flooding.
He was fired for a breach of company policy.
The breach in the firewall was patched.
The incident was a flagrant breach of international law.
His behavior constituted a serious breach of professional ethics.
The breach in the dam was catastrophic.
They were accused of a breach of fiduciary duty.
The breach of the peace was a minor offense.
She felt the breach of trust was irreparable.
The company is liable for the breach.
A breach of security allowed the data to leak.
The breach of the covenant was met with severe sanctions.
The breach in the hull threatened the entire vessel.
His actions were a profound breach of the social contract.
The breach of protocol was considered an insult.
They sought to mend the breach in their long-standing alliance.
The breach of the wall signaled the end of the siege.
A breach of confidentiality can have legal repercussions.
The breach of the peace was handled by the local authorities.
Synonyme
Gegenteile
Häufige Kollokationen
Idioms & Expressions
"step into the breach"
to help out
She stepped into the breach when he fell ill.
formalEasily Confused
similar sound
breech refers to a part of a gun or birth
breech birth
Sentence Patterns
Subject + breach + Object
They breached the wall.
Wortfamilie
Nouns
Verbs
Verwandt
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Häufige Fehler
Breach is for serious violations.
Tips
Rhyme Time
Remember it rhymes with reach.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Breach rhymes with reach; if you reach too far, you might breach the rules.
Visual Association
A wall with a big hole.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Use the word in a sentence today.
Wortherkunft
Old English
Original meaning: break
Kultureller Kontext
None
Common in legal and IT news.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
business
- breach of contract
Conversation Starters
"Have you ever heard of a data breach?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you broke a rule.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
1 FragenNo, they are different words.
Teste dich selbst
There is a ___ in the wall.
Breach means a hole or break.
What is a data breach?
A data breach is a security failure.
A breach of contract is good.
It is a failure to keep a promise.
Word
Bedeutung
Legal term.
Subject-Verb-Object.
Ergebnis: /5
Summary
A breach is a break in a wall or a rule.
- It means a break.
- Used for walls.
- Used for rules.
- Formal tone.
Rhyme Time
Remember it rhymes with reach.
Beispiel
The dog managed to find a small breach in the garden fence and escaped into the woods.
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