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Meaning & use

breach of trust

noun·Academic

Last updated

UK/ˌbriːtʃ əv ˈtrʌst/
US/ˌbriːtʃ əv ˈtrʌst/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable or uncountable

    An act that betrays the confidence someone placed in you, such as breaking a promise or misusing something entrusted to you.

    Grammar: Can be uncountable or countable: it is a breach of trust; a serious breach of trust.

    Patterns

    • a breach of trust by someone
    • commit a breach of trust

    Reading her private diary was a breach of trust.

    The manager's lies were a serious breach of trust.

    Sharing the secret was a breach of trust between friends.

  2. nouncountable or uncountablelegal

    In law, a failure by a trustee to act properly with property or money held for someone else.

    Grammar: Legal use; the trustee commits the breach.

    Patterns

    • breach of trust by a trustee

    The trustee was sued for breach of trust after spending the fund.

    Courts treat breach of trust seriously.

    The lawyer was charged with breach of trust for taking client money.

Word forms

pluralbreaches of trust

Common combinations

a serious breach of trust
Lying on the report was a serious breach of trust.
commit a breach of trust
He committed a breach of trust.
accused of breach of trust
She was accused of breach of trust.
a gross breach of trust
Selling the data was a gross breach of trust.
a breach of trust between friends
Telling lies is a breach of trust between friends.

Synonyms and how they differ

betrayal
Betrayal is more emotional and personal, while breach of trust can sound formal or legal.
violation of trust
This is nearly the same but a bit more formal and less common.
abuse of trust
Abuse of trust suggests taking advantage of a position, often for gain.
double-cross
Double-cross is informal and suggests a planned deceit for advantage.

Opposites

loyaltyfaithfulness

Word family

breach noun
a failure to keep a rule or promise
breach verb
to break a rule or promise
trust noun
firm belief in someone
trustee noun
a person who manages property for others

Commonly confused: breach of trust or breech?

breach of trust vs breech

Breech is the back part of a gun or a baby's position at birth; breach is the break or gap.

Practice

When the accountant secretly used client money for himself, it was a clear ______.

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