A breach of contract can be categorized as?

A breach of contract can be categorized as minor or major, which reflects the severity of the breach and its impact on the contractual obligations. A minor breach, often referred to as a partial breach, occurs when the breaching party fails to perform a part of their duty under the contract but the overall purpose of the contract is still being met. In contrast, a major breach, also known as a material breach, is a significant failure that allows the non-breaching party to terminate the contract and sue for damages because the essence of the agreement is violated. Understanding this distinction is crucial in assessing the legal remedies available to the non-breaching party and the potential consequences for the breaching party.

The other categories, such as temporary or permanent and unilateral or bilateral, do not accurately reflect the primary distinctions related to the severity of a breach. Temporary breaches might imply a deferment rather than a clear categorization, and unilateral or bilateral pertain more to the nature of the agreement (one-sided vs. mutual obligations) than to the breach itself. Focusing on minor and major provides a more precise framework for evaluating breaches within contractual law.