encroachment

American  

[en-krohch-muhnt] / ɛnˈkroʊtʃ mənt /

noun

1. an act or instance of encroaching.

2. anything taken by encroaching.

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Other Word Forms

• nonencroachment noun

Etymology

Origin of encroachment

1425–75; late Middle English encrochement < Anglo-French. See encroach, -ment

Explanation

An encroachment is something that intrudes and has the power to influence whatever it encounters. Some might consider text messaging to be an encroachment of impersonal technology on true, heartfelt interactions. Encroachment carries the sense of something slowly creeping into something else's space, either literally or figuratively. An encroachment can be of the physical variety, such as the encroachment of new development into a beautiful coastal area. Encroachment typically has a slightly a negative meaning, hinting at something that intrudes on something and then spoils it in some way.

Example Sentences

The only visible law enforcement presence is a police car rammed across the driveway, signaling the limits of encroachment, like an invisible wall in a video game.

From Slate • Feb. 23, 2026

The National Union of Healthcare Workers, which represents Kaiser employees, has been among the earliest to recognize and respond to the encroachment of AI into the workplace.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 6, 2026

While banks have embraced some aspects of crypto—helping people invest in bitcoin and using digital assets to make money transfers more efficient—they are drawing a line at encroachment on their core business: consumer deposits.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 30, 2026

Financial advisors, who manage much of the country’s wealth, also see a threat from betting’s encroachment.

From Barron's • Dec. 18, 2025

Some of the PAC men had already been on the island, and saw our arrival as an encroachment on their territory.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Related Words

• inroad
• intrusion
• invasion