invasion

noun

in·​va·​sion in-ˈvā-zhən 

1

: an act of invading

especially : incursion of an army for conquest or plunder

2

: the incoming or spread of something usually hurtful

Synonyms

• incursion
• raid

Examples of invasion in a Sentence

The enemy launched an invasion.

The people live under a constant threat of invasion.

The town is gearing up for the annual tourist invasion.

protecting the house from insect invasion

Recent Examples on the Web

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and NATO allies fear Moscow has more ambitions in the former Soviet sphere, especially the Baltic states. —Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025

Following last week's invasion of the Carrie body snatchers storyline, an opening montage of Carrie click-clacking around her Gramercy Park townhouse in various designer heels resets the stage for a return to peak Carrie form. —Megan McCluskey, Time, 27 June 2025

This marks a major step toward holding Russia’s leadership accountable for launching the full-scale invasion in 2022. —Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025

Earlier in the episode, a heist crew nearly ruins a home invasion when its tech expert, Stuart (played by Eric André), accidentally triggers an alarm. —Stacia Brown, Vulture, 25 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English invasioun "assault, attack," borrowed from Anglo-French invasion, envasioun, borrowed from Late Latin invāsiōn-, invāsiō "attack, taking possession by violence," from Latin invādere "to enter with hostile intent, assault, attack" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at invade

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing invasion

• counter-invasion
• invasion of (someone's) privacy
• pre-invasion

Rhymes for invasion

• abrasion
• caucasian
• equation
• eurasian
• evasion
• occasion
• persuasion
• asian
• suasion
• athanasian

Kids Definition

invasion

noun

in·​va·​sion in-ˈvā-zhən 

: an act of invading

especially : entrance of an army into a country for conquest

Medical Definition

invasion

noun

in·​va·​sion in-ˈvā-zhən 

: the act of invading: as

a

: the penetration of the body of a host by a microorganism

b

: the spread and multiplication of a pathogenic microorganism or of malignant cells in the body of a host

Legal Definition

invasion

noun

in·​va·​sion in-ˈvā-zhən 

: the act of or an instance of invading