What does transgression mean?
Transgression means an act that crosses a boundary or violates an established rule, law, moral standard, or religious command. Its modern uses range from legal and institutional language to moral and theological discussion. In legal contexts, a transgression may be a breach of regulations or an offence against the law. In ethical or religious contexts, it often suggests wrongdoing, disobedience, or a violation of principles considered fundamental. The word has a formal, sometimes solemn tone and can make a violation sound more serious than the everyday word mistake or error. Its core idea is movement beyond a permitted limit: historically, the term referred to stepping across a boundary, and it gradually developed into a broader expression for violating rules or moral obligations. Transgression is useful when the boundary being crossed is explicit and the violation carries significance, as in a transgression against the law or against divine command.
nounAn act that violates a law, rule, boundary, or moral principle. In religious contexts, it can refer to sin or disobedience, especially in relation to divine commands.
- An act of violating a law, rule, boundary, or moral principle.
- A religious or moral wrong considered as disobedience, especially to divine commands.
- An act of moving or going beyond an allowed limit or boundary.
"The committee regarded the unauthorized alteration as a serious transgression."
"Theft and fraud are not merely technical transgressions but serious violations of public trust."
"In the religious tradition, human transgression is understood as turning away from divine command."
The standard plural form is used for multiple violations, wrongdoings, or moral or religious offences.
"The statute lists several transgressions that are subject to disciplinary review."
From literally stepping across a boundary to describing a moral wrong, transgression captures the idea of going beyond what is permitted.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does transgression come from?
The word entered English in the late Middle English period through French, ultimately deriving from Latin transgressio, a noun formed from transgredi, “to step across” or “go beyond.” The Latin element trans- means “across” or “beyond,” while gradi means “to step.” Related English forms such as transgress, transgressive, and transgressor preserve the same root and its sense of passing beyond an authorized limit.
How transgression is actually used
The word is formal and often carries a moral or religious implication. In modern usage it usually suggests a deliberate breach of an established rule, law, or boundary; in theological writing it may denote sin more broadly.