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

In 2008, an Iraqi journalist hurled a shoe at the then US President George W Bush in protest over America's invasion of Iraq.

From BBC

Russia either denied these earlier incursions or said they were accidental as its full-scale invasion of nearby Ukraine continues.

From BBC

Russian forces have occupied most of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, including Luhansk and Donetsk, since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

From BBC

“I was in the invasion of Iraq, and so we had a lot of fixed wings coming over, dropping bombs, so I tend to get kind of emotional.”

From Los Angeles Times

In planning that strongly echoes the ill-fated invasion of Iraq, Rubio is working with exiled opposition politicians on day-after regime change plans.

From Salon

Related Words

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