breach of promise
breach of promise. The violation of one’s word or undertaking, esp. a promise to marry. • Under English common law, an engagement to marry had the nature of a commercial contract, so if one party broke the engagement without justification, the innocent party was entitled to damages. See HEARTBALM STATUTE . [Cases: Breach of Marriage Promise 1–36. C.J.S. Breach of Marriage Promise §§ 2–21.]