trespass
Americannoun
-
trespasses
plural
-
Law.
-
an unlawful act causing injury to the person, property, or rights of another, committed with force or violence, actual or implied.
-
a wrongful entry upon the lands of another.
-
the action to recover damages for such an injury.
-
-
an encroachment or intrusion.
-
an offense, sin, or wrong.
verb (used without object)
-
trespasses,
present (3rd person singular)
-
trespassed,
past participle, past
-
trespassing
present participle
-
Law. to commit a trespass.
-
to encroach on a person's privacy, time, etc.; infringe (usually followed by on orupon ).
-
to commit a transgression or offense; transgress; offend; sin.
verb
-
to go or intrude (on the property, privacy, or preserves of another) with no right or permission
-
law to commit trespass, esp to enter wrongfully upon land belonging to another
-
archaic (often foll by against) to sin or transgress
noun
-
law
-
any unlawful act committed with force or violence, actual or implied, which causes injury to another person, his property, or his rights
-
a wrongful entry upon another's land
-
an action to recover damages for such injury or wrongful entry
-
-
an intrusion on another's privacy or preserves
-
a sin or offence
Synonym Usage
Trespass , encroach , infringe , intrude imply overstepping boundaries and assuming possession of others' property or crowding onto the right of others. To trespass is to pass unlawfully within the boundaries of another's property: Hunters trespass on a farmer's fields. To encroach is to creep, gradually and often stealthily, upon territory, rights, or privileges, so that a footing is imperceptibly established: The sea slowly encroached upon the land. To infringe is to break in upon or invade rights, customs, or the like, by violating or disregarding them: to infringe upon a patent. To intrude is to thrust oneself into the presence of a person or into places or circumstances where one is not welcome: to intrude into a private conversation.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
trespasssimple
-
trespassessimple
-
have trespassedperfect
-
has trespassedperfect
-
am trespassingprogressive
-
are trespassingprogressive
-
is trespassingprogressive
-
have been trespassingperfect progressive
-
has been trespassingperfect progressive
Past
-
trespassedsimple
-
had trespassedperfect
-
was trespassingprogressive
-
were trespassingprogressive
-
had been trespassingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of trespass
First recorded in 1250–1300; (noun) Middle English trespas “transgression, offense,” from Old French, derivative of trespasser, equivalent to tres- (from Latin trāns- trans- ) + passer “to pass” ( see pass); (verb) Middle English trespassen, derivative of the noun
Explanation
To trespass is to illegally enter someone's property or overstep your bounds in another way. Have you ever seen a "No trespassing" sign? If so, you probably know it means "Keep out" and that trespassing is to go somewhere unlawfully. If you break into a store that's closed or enter a stranger's yard, you're trespassing and could be arrested. Also, trespassing refer to other types of stepping over boundaries. If you lie to a friend, that's a type of trespassing. Taking advantage of someone is trespassing. Both kinds of trespassing are violations.
Vocabulary lists containing trespass
Prince (1958-2016) Tribute List
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!
Enrique's Journey
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!
Catching Fire
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.
See Examples For:
After confirming it was valid, a sheriff’s deputy — one of nine at the scene — told the activists they could remain on the road but could not trespass.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2026
The fearful unknowns that trespass, that make the days precarious and some nights miles long, also seed the imagination, creativity and art.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 9, 2026
Tensions were highlighted in 1932 by the mass trespass of Kinder Scout, moorland kept exclusively for grouse shooting by its owner, the Duke of Devonshire.
From BBC ● Apr. 18, 2026
Its goal was to limit state tort claims, like assault and trespass, against federal officials acting under federal authority.
From Slate ● Apr. 15, 2026
Laila had been to funerals before where she had seen women like this, women who relished all things that had to do with death, official consolers who let no one trespass on their self-appointed duties.
From "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini
They are organized trespasses into religious and public information facilities for social media attention,” Scientology spokesman David Bloomberg said in a statement.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 28, 2026
The pope has led millions in a prayer that explicitly asks God to wipe their record clean of all trespasses.
From Salon ● Apr. 18, 2026
The one who rewards you for trusting his trespasses.
From Slate ● Apr. 27, 2025
Nature ceaselessly advances, trespasses, embarrasses our every effort to keep it at bay, and ultimately bursts through.
From New York Times ● Dec. 9, 2021
The sign had surprised Carla since "forgive us our trespasses" was the only other context in which she had heard the word.
From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez
Their evidence also stated that access could only be gained to the site by approved maintenance staff, residents in the immediate area, or if members of the public trespassed.
From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026
Often, São Paulo capybaras just need rescuing after they’ve trespassed: Sometimes a capybara has made its way into a home or business overnight and needs bailing out.
From Slate ● May 27, 2026
This fall some 20 Russian long-range drones deliberately trespassed into Polish airspace.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 27, 2025
The group allegedly trespassed in the area of the landmark around noon and tried to hang a banner on one of the “O’s,” according to a Los Angeles Police Department Instagram post.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2025
He did not answer, and I was aware again of that feeling of discomfort, as though I had trespassed on forbidden ground.
From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier
Since February, state police have arrested 48 people for trespassing on the property, many from nearby towns; 30 were teenagers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
Locals accuse trawlers of illegally trespassing into shallow waters reserved for small, local boats.
From Barron's ● Jun. 17, 2026
There have been other incidents of people trespassing into zoo enclosures of zoo animals after they became internet sensations.
From BBC ● May 18, 2026
No arrests have been made, according to the spokesman, who said there have been five documented trespassing incidents at Scientology properties in Hollywood this year.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 8, 2026
“You’re trespassing, and you have exactly one minute to explain why.”
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
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.
