interloper

[in-ter-loh-per]

noun

1. a person who interferes or meddles in the affairs of others.

   He was an atheist who felt like an interloper in this religious gathering.

2. an intruder; trespasser.

3. a person who intrudes into some region or field of trade without a proper license.

interloper

/ ˈɪntəˌləʊpə /

noun

1. an intruder

2. a person who introduces himself into professional or social circles where he does not belong

3. a person who interferes in matters that are not his concern

4. a person who trades unlawfully

Word History and Origins

Origin of interloper¹

First recorded in 1585–95; inter- + lope + -er ¹ ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of interloper¹

C17: from _inter- + loper , from Middle Dutch loopen to leap

Example Sentences

“Everyone who was there to buy wasn’t. It was hard to find someone I wanted to talk to. We were just kind of interlopers, walking around.”

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Gritty paddle surfaces and the influence of topspin-trained tennis interlopers has accelerated pace and rewarded hitters who put extra English on the ball.

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Eventually, an unexpected interloper arrived to rescue him.

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From its display case in the museum’s “Stories from Mesoamerica” hall, the iridescent plumage shimmers like a rainbow encased in glass, a tropical interloper to these northern climes.

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“Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha” reminds us that we’re only a naive and caring interloper away from making the world a slightly more welcoming place.

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Related Words

• intruder www.thesaurus.com
• trespasser www.thesaurus.com