---
title: "Breach of Contract"
type: Legal Term
source: https://casebriefly.com/legal-terms/breach-of-contract
---

# Breach of Contract

A breach of contract occurs when a party fails to perform a contractual obligation without a valid legal excuse. A material breach goes to the essence of the agreement, excusing the non-breaching party from further performance and entitling them to damages. A minor breach entitles the non-breaching party to damages but does not discharge their duty to perform.

## Related Terms

- anticipatory-repudiation
- substantial-performance
- mitigation-of-damages

## Related Cases

- jacob-youngs-v-kent
- hadley-v-baxendale
- rockingham-county-v-luten-bridge-co
- hochster-v-de-la-tour

## Example

A contractor substitutes a materially different brand of pipe than specified. Whether this is a material or minor breach depends on the significance of the deviation.

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Source: [Breach of Contract — CaseBriefly](https://casebriefly.com/legal-terms/breach-of-contract)