incursion

American  

[in-kur-zhuhn, -shuhn] / ɪnˈkɜr ʒən, -ʃən /

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.

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incursion British  

/ ɪnˈkɜːsɪv, ɪnˈkɜːʃən /

noun

1. a sudden invasion, attack, or raid

2. the act of running or leaking into; penetration

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Other Word Forms

• incursive adjective

Etymology

Origin of incursion

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin incursiōn- (stem of incursiō ) raid, equivalent to incurs ( us ) (past participle of incurrere to incur ) + -iōn- -ion; excursion

Example Sentences

It remains the last major US incursion on foreign soil in the Americas.

From BBC

The Lithuanian government has declared a "nationwide emergency situation" in response to a series of incursions from neighbouring Belarus by weather balloons carrying smuggled cigarettes.

From BBC

In Masala’s scenario, NATO’s failure to act over such a small incursion has big consequences.

From The Wall Street Journal

"The situation at the border with Belarus is worsening, with the growing incursions of smuggling balloons into Lithuania's airspace," the European Commission chief wrote on X following talks with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda.

From Barron's

On the southern U.S. border, a counterdrone system developed in Ukraine is being repurposed to deflect incursions from Mexico.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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