invasion

[ in-vey-zhuhn ]

noun

1. an act or instance of invading or entering as an enemy, especially by an army.
2. the entrance or advent of anything troublesome or harmful, as disease.
3. entrance as if to take possession or overrun:

   the annual invasion of the resort by tourists.

4. infringement by intrusion.

invasion

/ ɪnˈveɪʒən /

noun

1. the act of invading with armed forces
2. any encroachment or intrusion

   an invasion of rats

3. the onset or advent of something harmful, esp of a disease
4. pathol the spread of cancer from its point of origin into surrounding tissues
5. the movement of plants to a new area or to an area to which they are not native

Other Words From

• prein·vasion adjective
• rein·vasion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of invasion¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Late Latin invāsīon- (stem of invāsiō ), equivalent to invās ( us ), past participle of invādere + -iōn- -ion; invade

Related Words

• aggression
• assault
• breach
• incursion
• infiltration
• infringement
• intrusion
• offensive
• onslaught
• raid
• violation