entrench

American  

[en-trench] / ɛnˈtrɛntʃ /

verb (used with object)

1. to place in a position of strength; establish firmly or solidly.

   safely entrenched behind undeniable facts.

   Synonyms:

   embed, implant, set, ensconce, settle

2. to dig trenches for defensive purposes around (oneself, a military position, etc.).

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verb (used without object)

1. to encroach; trespass; infringe (usually followed by on orupon ).

   to entrench on the domain or rights of another.

entrench British  

/ ɪnˈtrɛntʃ /

verb

1. (tr) to construct (a defensive position) by digging trenches around it

2. (tr) to fix or establish firmly, esp so as to prevent removal or change

3. (intr; foll by on or upon) to trespass or encroach; infringe

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Other Word Forms

• entrenched adjective
• entrencher noun
• reentrench verb

Etymology

Origin of entrench

First recorded in 1545–55; en- ¹ + trench

Example Sentences

Avian flu - a type of influenza - is entrenched across South and South-East Asia and has occasionally infected humans since emerging in China in the late 1990s.

From BBC

“The current housing market is entrenched in an affordability crisis leaving many average American families feeling excluded from the traditional promise of upward mobility and homeownership,” Miller said on the Wednesday call.

From Barron's

Crypto newcomers and veterans alike say severe swings in bitcoin are the price of admission for an investment that has delivered eye-popping gains and appears poised to become entrenched in the financial system over time.

From The Wall Street Journal

He had an understanding of public policy failures and entrenched inequities, and he wanted to talk about the moral duty to address them and the financial benefits of doing so.

From Los Angeles Times

The economy has failed to expand since June, with concerns rising that low growth might be becoming entrenched.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• define
• embed
• ensconce
• fortify
• ingrain
• strengthen