transgression

UK: /trænzˈgrɛʃ^ən/

US: /trænsˈgrɛʃən, trænz-/

US: (trans gresh′ən, tranz-)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

trans•gres•sion  (trans gresh′ən, tranz-), n. 

1. an act of transgressing;
   violation of a law, command, etc.;
   sin.

• Latin trānsgressiōn- (stem of trānsgressiō) a stepping across. See transgress, -ion
• late Middle English 1400–50

Synonyms

See breach.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

transgression / trænzˈɡrɛʃən/ noun

1. a breach of a law, etc; sin or crime
2. the act or an instance of transgressing

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

trans•gress /trænsˈgrɛs, trænz-/  v. 

1. to go beyond (a limit, etc.):
   transgressed the bounds of good sense.
2. 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•sion /trænsˈgrɛʃən, trænz-/  n. [countable]

: punished for his transgressions.

[uncountable]

: transgression of common sense.

trans•gres•sor, n. [countable] See -gress-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

trans•gress  (trans gres′, tranz-), 
v.i. 

1. to violate a law, command, moral code, etc.;
   offend;
   sin.

v.t. 
2. to pass over or go beyond (a limit, boundary, etc.):
   to transgress bounds of prudence.
3. 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
trans•gres ′sive, adj. 
trans•gres ′sive•ly, adv. 
trans•gres ′sor, n. 
Synonyms
• 1. err, trespass.
• 3. contravene, disobey.
Antonyms
• 3. obey.