interloper

noun

in·​ter·​lop·​er ˌin-tər-ˈlō-pər 

ˈin-tər-ˌlō-

: one that interlopes: such as

a

: one that intrudes in a place or sphere of activity

b

: an illegal or unlicensed trader

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The History of Interloper

The -loper part of interloper is believed to be either from an English dialectal word meaning "leap" or from a Dutch word meaning "to run." (The prefix inter- means "between" or "among.") An interloper is essentially one that jumps into the midst of things without an invitation to do so.

Synonyms

• intruder

Examples of interloper in a Sentence

I had hoped to help my neighbors, but they regarded me as an interloper.

summer residents were regarded as interlopers who had no deep commitment to the town's welfare

Recent Examples on the Web

Last year, Vandy was a fun upstart story after upsetting Alabama, while IU was the CFP interloper in Curt Cignetti’s first season with the Hoosiers. —Ralph D. Russo, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025

This is a novel and compelling scenario and offers a refreshing alternative to collisions from interplanetary interlopers explaining the destruction of a former Saturnian moon. —Big Think, 9 Oct. 2025

The European Space Agency's (ESA) ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) was ready for the closeup, snapping imagery of the interloper using its Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS). —Mike Wall, Space.com, 7 Oct. 2025

The object is named for its status as one of three interstellar interlopers ever discovered in our cosmic neighborhood, as well as the telescope that spotted it. —Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 2 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1590, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for interloper

• loper
• roper
• sloper

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Kids Definition

interloper

noun

in·​ter·​lop·​er ˌint-ər-ˈlō-pər 

ˈint-ər-ˌlō-pər

: a person who intrudes or interferes wrongly or meddlesomely