invasion

[in-vey-zhuhn]

noun

1. an act or instance of invading or entering as an enemy, especially by an army.

2. the entrance or advent of anything troublesome or harmful, as disease.

3. entrance as if to take possession or overrun.

   the annual invasion of the resort by tourists.

4. infringement by intrusion.

invasion

/ ɪnˈveɪʒən /

noun

1. the act of invading with armed forces

2. any encroachment or intrusion

   an invasion of rats

3. the onset or advent of something harmful, esp of a disease

4. pathol the spread of cancer from its point of origin into surrounding tissues

5. the movement of plants to a new area or to an area to which they are not native

Other Word Forms

• preinvasion adjective
• reinvasion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of invasion¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Late Latin invāsīon- (stem of invāsiō ), equivalent to invās ( us ), past participle of invādere + -iōn- -ion; invade

Example Sentences

Europe meanwhile lost an independent way to launch its projects into space after Russia pulled its rockets following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Read more on Barron's

Groups across Eastern Europe that offer military training to civilians, such as the LRU, have seen a huge jump in membership since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A U.S. ground invasion is improbable, according to many analysts.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

She didn’t know she would be arriving mere months before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

In 1938, the alternative was a full-scale Anglo-French invasion of Germany from the West.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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