interloper

American  

[in-ter-loh-per] / ˈɪn tərˌloʊ pər /

noun

1. a person who interferes or meddles in the affairs of others.

   He was an atheist who felt like an interloper in this religious gathering.

2. an intruder; trespasser.

3. a person who intrudes into some region or field of trade without a proper license.

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interloper British  

/ ˈɪntəˌləʊpə /

noun

1. an intruder

2. a person who introduces himself into professional or social circles where he does not belong

3. a person who interferes in matters that are not his concern

4. a person who trades unlawfully

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Etymology

Origin of interloper

First recorded in 1585–95; inter- + lope + -er ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Apparently, this sunbathed land was as popular with interlopers in prehistory as it is now, and Portugal still boasts a large share of archaeological evidence.

From The Wall Street Journal

As in “The Country of the Pointed Firs,” the novel is about the arrival of a worldly interloper to a remote, pastoral community.

From The Wall Street Journal

It cloaks your identity Wherever you roam on the web, you leave behind a trail that your ISP and other interlopers can use to identify you.

From Salon

Mr. B. eventually moved on and the interloper, dubbed Shadow, moved in.

From Los Angeles Times

The interloper came from an unlikely place: Ohio.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• intruder
• trespasser