breach

(noun) A failure to observe or uphold a law, agreement, or standard; a gap or opening. (verb) To break through or violate.

• nocommon derivatives beyond the root word

• breach of contract
• breach of trust
• security breach
• breach of confidence
• commit a breach
• breach the rules
• in breach of

1. 1.Sharing confidential client data without consent would constitute a serious breach of data protection law.
2. 2.The levee was breached during the storm, flooding several residential areas downstream.

• violation/ˌvaɪəˈleɪʃən/— the act of breaking a law or agreement
• infringement/ɪnˈfrɪndʒmənt/— the act of violating a right or law
• contravention/ˌkɒntrəˈvɛnʃən/— formal: the action of going against a law

from Old French "breche" = a gap, opening — related to Old High German "brecha" (break)