inroad

noun

in·​road ˈin-ˌrōd 

plural inroads

1

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

—usually 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

His party’s retreat comes after a series of embarrassing election showings in which the far-right AfD made huge inroads. — Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Asian brands first make significant inroads into the US market during the oil price shock 50 years ago, and were clearly helped by the latest gasoline price spike. — Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026

That could bode well for future foreign language films looking to make inroads with mainstream audiences. — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026

And the films shot here were often standard multiplex fare, not exactly making inroads in storytelling or vision. — Felicia Feaster, AJC.com, 24 Sep. 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