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 of inroad

• incursion
• invasion
• raid

Examples of inroad in a Sentence

the army is finally making inroads into enemy territory

Recent Examples on the Web

With 53 Republicans in the Senate, Democrats need to flip four seats, while fending off GOP inroads in Michigan and elsewhere to take the majority. — Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026

But it’s also tried to make inroads in the movie business in the last couple years, pledging to double its film production by 2027, aiming for 10-15 films annually, partly to have greater control over IP. — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 3 Aug. 2026

Even in the United States, China made subnational inroads—namely, by selling port cranes to local authorities and operators—for years before the federal government moved to stop it. — Natalia Cote-Muñoz, Foreign Affairs, 3 Aug. 2026

Is Little Feat the most influential American rock band that never achieved mainstream success, in large part because its music was simply too diverse and good to make major commercial inroads? — George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for inroad

• abode
• anode
• barcode
• bestowed
• boatload
• borrowed
• carload
• caseload
• cathode
• commode
• corrode
• crossroad

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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