infiltration

[ in-fil-trey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act or process of infiltrating.
2. the state of being infiltrated.
3. something that infiltrates; an infiltrate.
4. Military.
   1. a method of attack in which small bodies of soldiers or individual soldiers penetrate the enemy's line at weak or unguarded points in order to assemble behind the enemy position and attack it from the rear, harass enemy rear-area installations, etc.
   2. a system of transporting troops or vehicles at extended and irregular intervals so as to avoid enemy observation or attack, especially from the air.
5. Geology. the seepage of water into soil or rock. Compare percolation ( def 3 ).

Other Words From

• rein·fil·tration noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of infiltration¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; infiltrate + -ion

Example Sentences

Georgia Power representatives “believe that EPA would have written it in” if they wanted specific kinds of infiltration removed, Cook scribbled in his legal pad.

From ProPublica

Eventually, Sayer emailed a colleague that he’d found a federal report that noted “groundwater would qualify as infiltration.”

From ProPublica

Through revelations like these, the industry has become known for using the modern tools of espionage—hacking, surveillance, infiltration, misdirection—in ways that confer power and impunity upon the rich.

From Time

It is also obviously the case that the specter of terrorist infiltration over an unguarded southern border has been a long-standing bit of hand-wringing from members of McCarthy’s party and an unproven one.

From Washington Post

Recent catastrophes, such as active hurricane seasons and the infiltration of the oil industry, have only exacerbated the crisis.

From Washington Post

The military commission this week was to focus on the alleged FBI infiltration of one of the defense teams.

From The Daily Beast

Police sources informed  Reforma that both action are considered “high risk” and ripe for “anarchist infiltration.”

From The Daily Beast

Though Yousef was active in the West Bank Hamas, Gaza would have been attainable infiltration.

From The Daily Beast

Infiltration, though, may well taint all main rebel factions.

From The Daily Beast

There are nearly 2,000 African migrants held in internment camps in the Negev desert as a result of the Anti-Infiltration Law.

From The Daily Beast

If this had been finished the waters would perhaps have invaded it by infiltration.

From Project Gutenberg

Another possible source of loss is the infiltration of small particles of alloy into the cupel.

From Project Gutenberg

Old Hadley has become a prototype of what may become general if this racial infiltration is not soon checked.

From Project Gutenberg

American ideals and institutions have borne and can bear a great deal of foreign infiltration.

From Project Gutenberg

There was very general carbonaceous infiltration throughout the lungs, without excavations to any extent.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• aggression
• assault
• breach
• incursion
• infringement
• intrusion
• offensive
• onslaught
• raid
• violation