[, ] () a situation when sb does not do sth that is required by an agreement, by a promise or by law, or does sth that is not allowed 违约；违法；违反◆Their actions constituted a serious breach of the guidelines. 他们的行为严重违反了指引。◆We are suing the company for breach of contract. 我们正在控告这公司违反合约。◆The firm could be in breach of European Union law on insurance. 这公司可能违反欧盟保险法。➡ idiom at step verb⨁(a) clear / serious breach of sth 明确地／严重地违反某事⨁(a) breach of agreement / contract / copyright / discipline / duty / promise 违反协议／合同／版权／纪律／责任／承诺⨁sth amounts to / constitutes a breach 某事属／构成违约anticipatory breach