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

Did you know?

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

• busybody
• buttinsky
• buttinski
• interferer
• intermeddler
• intruder
• kibitzer
• kibbitzer
• meddler
• nosey parker [chiefly British]

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

Declan refuses to share a bedroom and a birthday with Brendan and regards him not as a brother but an interloper. —Malcolm Forbes, Boston Herald, 15 May 2025

Bailey stares at the man in the video for several uncomfortable seconds, before raising his paw to touch the interloper and further emphasize his point. —Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025

For Trump and his basic understanding of history, Columbus is as core to the United States’ DNA as apple pie and Betsy Ross, and the interloper Indigenous Peoples Day is a pernicious effort to hijack it like a cancer. —Philip Elliott, Time, 28 Apr. 2025

Even Larry Ellison and his son David are having trouble closing their Paramount deal as new interlopers and random Trump bureaucrats intrude. —Peter Bart, Deadline, 27 Mar. 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