The breaking or puncturing of a ship's surface.

(law) a breach of contract sufficiently serious to destroy the contract / a breach of a treaty which releases other parties from any obligation under it

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see breach, promise. / (law) A tort in common law arising when a man withdraws an earlier promise to marry a woman; abolished in many jurisdictions.

(law) A failure to meet an obligation under the terms of a contract.

plural of material breach

(law) The legal offense of engaging in public behavior which is violent, rowdy, or disruptive. / (by extension) Any public disturbance or disorderly behavior.

(transitive, idiomatic, American spelling) To demonstrate (a rule, law, or policy) by breaking or breaching it.

plural of breach of contract

(law) A breach of contract where one party indicates prior to the time of performance that it will not perform when performance is due.

plural of anticipatory breach