What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
infringed
Example
The company infringed on the patent of their competitor. [infringed: past tense]
Example
The new policy would infringe on the privacy rights of citizens. [infringe: verb]
contravene
Example
The proposed legislation would contravene international human rights laws. [contravene: verb]
Example
The company was found to have contravened the terms of their contract with the supplier. [contravened: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Infringe is more common than contravene in everyday language.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between infringed and contravene?
Contravene is generally considered more formal than infringe and is often used in legal contexts or formal writing.
