Overtræder

Overtræder is a Danish verb meaning to violate, breach, or transgress. It is used for violations of laws, rules, contracts, or norms, and can refer to individuals, organizations, or institutions. In legal contexts it often denotes an offense or infringement as defined by statute or regulation, while in everyday language it can describe moral, ethical, or procedural breaches as well.

Etymology and related forms: The verb is formed from the prefix over- and træde (to tread), conveying the sense of stepping over a boundary. The corresponding noun is overtrædelse, meaning a violation or offense. Related terms include bryde (to break) and overskridelse (exceeding or infringement).

Conjugation and usage: In present tense, it is overtræder; past tense is overtrådte; and the past participle is overtrådt. Common phrases include overtræde loven (to violate the law) and overtrædelse af loven (the violation of the law). The term appears in legal, policy, and journalistic texts as a neutral descriptor of breaches or non-compliance.