What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
contravention
Example
The company's actions were in contravention of the environmental regulations. [contravention: noun]
Example
The employee's behavior was in contravention of the company's code of conduct. [contravention: noun]
breach
Example
The data breach compromised the personal information of thousands of customers. [breach: noun]
Example
The company breached its contract with the supplier by failing to make payments on time. [breached: past tense verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Breach is more commonly used than contravention in everyday language. Breach is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while contravention is less common and is typically used in more formal or legal settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between contravention and breach?
Contravention is typically associated with a more formal or legal tone, while breach can be used in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.