inroad

American  

[in-rohd] / ˈɪnˌroʊd /

noun

1. a damaging or serious encroachment.

   inroads on our savings.

2. a sudden hostile or predatory incursion; raid; foray.

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inroad British  

/ ˈɪnˌrəʊd /

noun

1. an invasion or hostile attack; raid or incursion

2. an encroachment or intrusion

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Etymology

Origin of inroad

First recorded in 1540–50; in- ¹ + road

Explanation

When you make an inroad, you advance into new territory. An attacking army might try to make an inroad into a neighboring country, for example. Intruding in another's space or advancing into a previously inaccessible area are both examples of inroads. The word is most often used in its plural form, like when your history teacher talks about the great inroads women have made politically in the past fifty years. The noun inroad was originally used only to talk about military movement, describing armies making hostile raids. The road part of inroad evolved from the word ride, so the word comes from "riding in."

Example Sentences

“Millions of dollars have been spent on ranges, tracking dogs, cameras, helicopters, fancy alarms and fences, and none of it was bending the curve or making a significant inroad in reducing poaching,” Kuiper said.

From Salon • Jun. 16, 2025

Sale had moments of possession but they conceded eight turnovers and failed to make an inroad on the scoreboard as De Wet and Venter scored further tries for Stormers.

From BBC • Jan. 11, 2025

"These findings bolster prior work that facial stereotypes may have disastrous effects in the real world, but, more importantly, provide a potential inroad toward combating these sorts of biases," Freeman said.

From Science Daily • Dec. 14, 2023

Jackson may not live in Los Angeles anymore, but her memories of these dead-end streets provided a surprising inroad into how intimacy is still a very abstract construct.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 29, 2023

Many a man whose patriotism had been lukewarm or wavering took down his rifle from its hooks and hurried away to do his best to prevent the threatened great inroad of the Iroquois.

From The Noank's Log A Privateer of the Revolution by Stoddard, W. O.

Related Words

• encroachment
• incursion