to break (a law, rule, etc) to go beyond or overstep (a limit)
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
trans•gress /trænsˈgrɛs, trænz-/USA pronunciation v.
trans•gres•sor, n. [countable]See -gress-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- to go beyond (a limit, etc.):transgressed the bounds of good sense.
- to go beyond the limits imposed by (a law, etc.); violate;
infringe: [no object]to have transgressed against God and nature.[~ + object]to have transgressed the laws of God and nature.
trans•gres•sor, n. [countable]See -gress-.
trans•gress
(trans gres′, tranz-),USA pronunciation
v.i.
v.i.
- to violate a law, command, moral code, etc.;
offend;
sin. - to pass over or go beyond (a limit, boundary, etc.):to transgress bounds of prudence.
- to go beyond the limits imposed by (a law, command, etc.);
violate;
infringe:to transgress the will of God. - Latin trānsgressus (past participle of trānsgredī to step across), equivalent. to trāns- trans- + -gred- (combining form of gradī to step; see grade) + -tus past participle suffix, with dt
ss - 1520–30
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged err, trespass.
- 3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged contravene, disobey.
- 3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged obey.
v.t.
trans•gres ′sive•ly, adv.
trans•gres ′sor, n.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'transgress' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
contravene
- delinquency
- err
- forfeit
- infringe
- offend
- overpass
- peccadillo
- sin
- transgression
- trespass
- violate