incursion
noun
Incursion — the forceful entrance of an outside force into territory or domain
Definition
The act of entering some territory or domain (often in large numbers); "the incursion of television into the American living room"
In depth
An incursion is the act of entering a territory or domain, often in significant numbers and frequently with hostile or disruptive intent. The word carries military weight, evoking invasion or unwelcome encroachment, though it has extended figuratively to describe any unwanted intrusion into a previously stable or protected area.
Origin
The word descends from Latin incursio, an attack or running against, from incurrere, to run into or attack, formed from in- (into) and currere (to run). That root sense of running forcefully into something remains vivid in the word's modern use, retaining a kinetic, almost violent energy even in its most figurative applications.
Usage examples
"The incursion of the rival army caught the border towns almost entirely unprepared."
"Scientists tracked the incursion of an invasive species that had already begun displacing native wildlife."
"She viewed the new regulations as an unwelcome incursion into territory that had long been her department's alone."
How to use it
Incursion suits military, ecological, and political writing especially well, valuable for describing the forceful or unwelcome entry of an outside force into a defined territory, whether literal land or figurative domain of authority.
Related concepts
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