incursion

[ in-kur-zhuhn, -shuhn ]

noun

1. a hostile entrance into or invasion of a place or territory, especially a sudden one; raid:

   The bandits made brief incursions on the village.

   Synonyms: attack, foray, sortie

2. a harmful inroad.
3. a running in:

   the incursion of sea water.

incursion

/ ɪnˈkɜːsɪv; ɪnˈkɜːʃən /

noun

1. a sudden invasion, attack, or raid
2. the act of running or leaking into; penetration

Derived Forms

• incursive, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of incursion¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin incursiōn- (stem of incursiō ) raid, equivalent to incurs ( us ) (past participle of incurrere to incur ) + -iōn- -ion; excursion

Word History and Origins

Origin of incursion¹

C15: from Latin incursiō onset, attack, from incurrere to run into; see incur

Example Sentences

According to the Institute for the Study of War, a US non-profit, Russia had 11,000 troops in Kursk when Ukraine began its shock incursion in early August.

From BBC

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said his military's ongoing incursion into Russia's Kursk region is now holding down 50,000 Russian troops.

From BBC

Marcus Rashford had struck the bar in the closing seconds of the first half, but Sanchez was untroubled until he injudiciously challenged Rasmus Hojlund as the United striker appeared to lose control of the ball while moving away from goal during a rare incursion into the danger zone.

From BBC

The announcement comes as Ukraine continues to commit personnel for its incursion in the Kursk region of Russia, which started in August.

From BBC

The statute allows the president to invoke the law, not only in times of explicitly declared war with a congressional declaration of war, but also in times of presidentially identified invasion or predatory incursion.

From Slate

Related Words

• aggression
• attack
• foray
• infiltration
• inroad
• intrusion
• penetration
• raid