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

Other Word 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

The incursion of armed federal immigration agents in his beloved hometown of Los Angeles shocked Kent Wong.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Military analysts said the incursion was part of a Russian effort to test the defenses of North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

PARIS—French authorities detained crew members of a tanker carrying Russian crude oil and are investigating whether it played a role in last week’s drone incursions in Denmark.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The Taliban have previously accused Islamabad of border strikes, but this is the first time it has alleged an incursion deep into its territory, describing it as an "unprecedented act".

Read more on Barron's

Moscow previously has used military training exercises as cover for incursions across its border, most recently in its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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