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inroad

American  
[in-rohd] / ˈɪnˌroʊd /

noun

  1. a damaging or serious encroachment.

    inroads on our savings.

  2. a sudden hostile or predatory incursion; raid; foray.


inroad British  
/ ˈɪnˌrəʊd /

noun

  1. an invasion or hostile attack; raid or incursion

  2. an encroachment or intrusion

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of inroad

First recorded in 1540–50; in- 1 + road

Explanation

When you make an inroad, you advance into new territory. An attacking army might try to make an inroad into a neighboring country, for example. Intruding in another's space or advancing into a previously inaccessible area are both examples of inroads. The word is most often used in its plural form, like when your history teacher talks about the great inroads women have made politically in the past fifty years. The noun inroad was originally used only to talk about military movement, describing armies making hostile raids. The road part of inroad evolved from the word ride, so the word comes from "riding in."

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing inroad

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Millions of dollars have been spent on ranges, tracking dogs, cameras, helicopters, fancy alarms and fences, and none of it was bending the curve or making a significant inroad in reducing poaching,” Kuiper said.

From Salon • Jun. 16, 2025

Sale had moments of possession but they conceded eight turnovers and failed to make an inroad on the scoreboard as De Wet and Venter scored further tries for Stormers.

From BBC • Jan. 11, 2025

"These findings bolster prior work that facial stereotypes may have disastrous effects in the real world, but, more importantly, provide a potential inroad toward combating these sorts of biases," Freeman said.

From Science Daily • Dec. 14, 2023

On the Westside, attorney Erin Darling made a marginal inroad in the lead held by fellow attorney Traci Park.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 12, 2022

He could provision the safari for the whole of the homeward journey, and yet make a scarcely sensible inroad upon the resources of the people.

From Settlers and Scouts by Strang, Herbert