breach of the peace
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.08 in modern English
33
Scrabble Score
16
Letters
2
Syllables
10
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
The legal offense of engaging in public behavior which is violent, rowdy, or disruptive.
noun
Example Sentences
- "[T]he sheriff turned his eyes again. . . . "What have we here?" he cried; "two men boxing! Has there been a breach of the peace?""
- "Short of high treason, the gravest form of breach of the peace known to British law is riot."
- "Four men and a woman were arrested and charged with breaches of the peace after a series of scuffles in which protesters and police received minor injuries."
- "Polly's suspicions were louder, her temper became uncertain; once or twice she forgot herself and used language calculated to cause a breach of the peace."
- "Then, suddenly, the singing fell upon us and broke the silence into ruins. It was in the nature of a breach of the peace."
- "My rural ride continues, and on a gloriously balmy day in Worth Matravers the only obvious sign of a breach of the peace is a flock of geese lolloping out of the pond, on to the lane."