invasion

noun

in·​va·​sion in-ˈvā-zhən 

1

: an act of invading

especially : incursion of an army for conquest or plunder

2

: the incoming or spread of something usually hurtful

Synonyms

• descent
• foray
• incursion
• inroad
• irruption
• raid

Examples of invasion in a Sentence

The enemy launched an invasion.

The people live under a constant threat of invasion.

The town is gearing up for the annual tourist invasion.

protecting the house from insect invasion

Recent Examples on the Web

In its latest estimate, the U.K. Defense Ministry said Russian troops suffered 900,000 casualties -- including up to 250,000 killed -- since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine three years ago. —arkansasonline.com, 21 Mar. 2025

His Lawyers Reply to Justin Baldoni Wayfarer brings claims against Jones for breach of contract, while Abel brings claims for fraud, invasion of privacy and unfair competition, among others. —Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2025

Battlefield losses mount, though official numbers elusive The U.K. Defense Ministry released its latest estimates on Russian casualties, saying 900,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine three years ago. —Hanna Arhirova and Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2025

Yet despite overwhelming evidence of its involvement, Rwanda has never acknowledged its de-facto invasion of Congo. —Emmet Livingstone, The Dial, 20 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English invasioun "assault, attack," borrowed from Anglo-French invasion, envasioun, borrowed from Late Latin invāsiōn-, invāsiō "attack, taking possession by violence," from Latin invādere "to enter with hostile intent, assault, attack" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at invade

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing invasion

• counter-invasion
• invasion of (someone's) privacy
• pre-invasion

Rhymes for invasion

• abrasion
• caucasian
• equation
• eurasian
• evasion
• occasion
• persuasion
• asian
• suasion
• athanasian

Kids Definition

invasion

noun

in·​va·​sion in-ˈvā-zhən 

: an act of invading

especially : entrance of an army into a country for conquest

Medical Definition

invasion

noun

in·​va·​sion in-ˈvā-zhən 

: the act of invading: as

a

: the penetration of the body of a host by a microorganism

b

: the spread and multiplication of a pathogenic microorganism or of malignant cells in the body of a host

Legal Definition

invasion

noun

in·​va·​sion in-ˈvā-zhən 

: the act of or an instance of invading