What does infringed mean?
“Infringed” is the past tense and past participle of “infringe,” a formal verb meaning to break a law, agreement, or recognized legal right. Its most common use concerns intellectual property: a product, design, performance, or publication may infringe a patent, copyright, trademark, or related right. In this sense, the word carries a distinctly legal and accusatory tone, although the verb itself merely states that a rule or right has been violated. “Infringed” can also refer to encroachment, as when conduct infringes upon someone's land, privacy, or established area of activity. The word derives ultimately from Latin, where its components conveyed the idea of breaking or breaking into. Because “infringe” is the standard dictionary headword, “infringed” will generally appear in definitions as an inflected form rather than as an independent lexical item. In writing, it is especially useful when precision matters, particularly in legal, commercial, and intellectual-property discussions.
verb (past tense and past participle)To violate or break a law, agreement, or legal right, especially intellectual property rights. It can also mean to encroach on land, rights, or a sphere of activity.
- To violate a law, agreement, patent, copyright, trademark, or other legal right.
- To encroach on or intrude into someone's rights, land, or area of activity.
"The company argued that the new design infringed its patent."
"The court ruled that the software had infringed the inventor's patent."
"Repeated unauthorized performances infringed the playwright's control over the work."
A daily use of the word is a legal alarm bell: saying a product “infringes” a patent immediately places the alleged violation at the centre of the conversation.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does infringed come from?
The word comes through Anglo-French from Latin infringere, formed from in- and frangere, meaning “to break into” or “break in.” Its earliest sense involved physically forcing an entry or breaking into a place; the idea of breaking a boundary developed into the legal sense of violating a right or authority. The modern forms “infringement,” “infringer,” and “infraction” reflect the same Latin verb.
How infringed is actually used
“Infringed” is the past tense and past participle of “infringe.” In legal contexts it is commonly followed by “copyright,” “patent,” “trademark,” or a specific legal right; the phrase “infringe on” is also common when referring to an area of activity or encroachment.