interloper
Americannoun
-
a person who interferes or meddles in the affairs of others.
He was an atheist who felt like an interloper in this religious gathering.
-
an intruder; trespasser.
-
a person who intrudes into some region or field of trade without a proper license.
noun
-
an intruder
-
a person who introduces himself into professional or social circles where he does not belong
-
a person who interferes in matters that are not his concern
-
a person who trades unlawfully
Etymology
Origin of interloper
First recorded in 1585–95; inter- + lope + -er 1 ( def. )
Explanation
If you intrude on people without their permission, you are an interloper. An interloper crashes parties and laughs at "No Trespassing" signs. Interloper was likely formed by combining inter-, ("between") with -loper, (from landloper, meaning "vagabond" or "adventurer"). An interloper, then, is someone who has ventured or traveled where he was not welcome. The noun interloper may also refer to something other than a person: "The new chain superstore built at the edge of town and was an interloper among the various mom-and-pop grocery stores in the area."
Vocabulary lists containing interloper
Beowulf
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "I"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Long Walk to Freedom
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Yet O’Connor condemned RIH’s move as an underhanded gambit to “circumvent” his authority, as though he alone had a claim to litigate this dispute and McElroy was an impudent interloper.
From Slate ● May 19, 2026
Callanan’s habit of taking a swipe at the American Ellmann in one footnote after another is almost endearing, even when it leaves the impression of snatching a piece of property back from an interloper.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026
Mr. B. eventually moved on and the interloper, dubbed Shadow, moved in.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 3, 2026
It wasn’t long ago that the thought of even a single interloper breaking into the ultraexclusive championship club seemed about as far-fetched as Nick Saban taking up stand-up comedy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 2, 2026
There I was an interloper, wandering in rooms that did not know me, sitting at a desk and in a chair that was not mine.
From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
