inroad

noun

in·​road ˈin-ˌrōd 

plural inroads

1

: an advance or penetration often at the expense of someone or something

—usually used in plural

2

: a sudden hostile incursion : raid

Did you know?

Inroad is a combination of in and road, both of which are pretty mundane, as far as words go. But the first-and-oldest-meaning of inroad hints at a meaning of road other than the "way for traveling" one. Beginning back in the days of Old English, road referred to an armed hostile incursion made on horseback. (Raid comes from this use of road and also formerly specified incursions on horseback.) Road, as well as inroad, has lost its violent connotation. While inroads are often made at the expense of someone or something, they are at times simply advances, as when an artist is said to be "making inroads into a community."

Synonyms

• descent
• foray
• incursion
• invasion
• irruption
• raid

Examples of inroad in a Sentence

the army is finally making inroads into enemy territory

Recent Examples on the Web

Six Republican governors are condemning efforts by the United Auto Workers to organize car factories in their states, a flash point as the labor group tries to build on its success last year winning concessions from the Big Three automakers by making inroads in the historically union-averse South. —Kate Gibson, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2024

That comes as emerging rivals have made inroads in key markets. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 14 Apr. 2024

Now, Republicans have started to make inroads into Democratic support among Latino voters, and some Black voters. —David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2024

What’s more, Starbucks has agreed to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement with the union – which has continued to make inroads at the company’s coffee shops. —Michael Z. Green, The Conversation, 11 Apr. 2024

Has former President Donald Trump made significant inroads with voters of color? —Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 4 Apr. 2024

Despite government support and strong market demand, thus far, the online lenders have not made significant inroads. —Zennon Kapron, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

Considering the significant inroads Afrobeats has made in the American music market over the last decade, Tyla’s win with an amapiano song wasn’t necessarily likely. —Heran Mamo, Billboard, 28 Mar. 2024

But as Democrats figure out just who could enter the 8th Congressional District race, the collaborative strategy points to an attempt to make inroads in a district the party missed out on last cycle. —Lawrence Andrea, Journal Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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Kids Definition

inroad

noun

in·​road ˈin-ˌrōd 

1

: a sudden hostile invasion : raid

2

: an important advance often at the expense of someone or something

making inroads against the competition