trespass

[ tres-puhs, -pas ]

noun

1. Law.
   1. an unlawful act causing injury to the person, property, or rights of another, committed with force or violence, actual or implied.
   2. a wrongful entry upon the lands of another.
   3. the action to recover damages for such an injury.
2. an encroachment or intrusion.
3. an offense, sin, or wrong.

verb (used without object)

1. Law. to commit a trespass.
2. to encroach on a person's privacy, time, etc.; infringe (usually followed by on or upon ).
3. to commit a transgression or offense; transgress; offend; sin.

trespass

/ ˈtrɛspəs /

verb

1. often foll byon or upon to go or intrude (on the property, privacy, or preserves of another) with no right or permission
2. law to commit trespass, esp to enter wrongfully upon land belonging to another
3. archaic.
   often foll by against to sin or transgress

noun

1. law
   1. any unlawful act committed with force or violence, actual or implied, which causes injury to another person, his property, or his rights
   2. a wrongful entry upon another's land
   3. an action to recover damages for such injury or wrongful entry
2. an intrusion on another's privacy or preserves
3. a sin or offence

Derived Forms

• ˈtrespasser, noun

Other Words From

• trespass·er noun
• non·trespass noun
• un·trespassed adjective
• un·trespass·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of trespass¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; (noun) Middle English trespas “transgression, offense,” from Old French, derivative of trespasser, equivalent to tres- (from Latin trāns- trans- ) + passer “to pass” ( pass ); (verb) Middle English trespassen, derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of trespass¹

C13: from Old French trespas a passage, from trespasser to pass through, from tres- trans- + passer , ultimately from Latin passus a pace ¹

Synonym Study

Trespass , encroach , infringe , intrude imply overstepping boundaries and assuming possession of others' property or crowding onto the right of others. To trespass is to pass unlawfully within the boundaries of another's property: Hunters trespass on a farmer's fields. To encroach is to creep, gradually and often stealthily, upon territory, rights, or privileges, so that a footing is imperceptibly established: The sea slowly encroached upon the land. To infringe is to break in upon or invade rights, customs, or the like, by violating or disregarding them: to infringe upon a patent. To intrude is to thrust oneself into the presence of a person or into places or circumstances where one is not welcome: to intrude into a private conversation.

Example Sentences

The very catchy song features Andy Samberg busting people who put trash in his recycle bin or trespass into his yard.

From Los Angeles Times

According to federal numbers, more than 750 of them were sentenced for crimes ranging from trespassing to assaulting police officers and seditious conspiracy.

From BBC

She said she felt like she was trespassing in space and upon the experience of the select few astronauts who had written about it firsthand.

From Los Angeles Times

An hours-long standoff ensued before the man was taken into custody on suspicion of trespassing, he said.

From Los Angeles Times

It was promptly rejected by Judge Beryl Howell, who is overseeing the trials of several defendants charged with violently trespassing on federal grounds in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election.

From Salon

Related Words

• infraction
• misdemeanor