invasion

noun

in·va·sion in-ˈvā-zhən

Synonyms of invasion next

: an act of invading

especially : incursion of an army for conquest or plunder

: the incoming or spread of something usually hurtful

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 Last year, Orban’s government blocked E.U. sanctions targeting Patriarch Kirill, the head of Russia’s Orthodox Church, a key Putin ally and a vocal propagandist for the Russian invasion. —

Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 27 Sep. 2023 The reaction of the Polish government to the refugees in 2021 was a sharp contrast to how refugees from Ukraine were welcomed after the Russian invasion in February 2022. —

Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Sep. 2023 Poland has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion of the country, handing over large numbers of its own tanks, fighter jets and other equipment. —

Compiled By Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 26 Sep. 2023 When reporters from Russia began streaming into Georgian exile after the invasion of Ukraine, the Formula TV network headquarters here provided them studio space, equipment, and other technical support. —

Anna Mulrine Grobe, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Sep. 2023 Barely a year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Finland cast aside decades of military nonalignment and self-reliance and joined the NATO alliance. —

Steven Erlanger, New York Times, 25 Sep. 2023 Russia has become increasingly dependent on China since the Kremlin ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. —

Laura He, CNN, 25 Sep. 2023 Headline of the day Biden presses allies for Ukraine aid to beat back Russian invasion in U.N. speech The president's remarks come at a time when polls shows that U.S. support for Ukraine’s defense is beginning to wane. —

Ben Kamisar, NBC News, 20 Sep. 2023 And Russia, though widely seen as having declined in standing in recent years, has managed to turn the world on its head with its invasion of Ukraine — which has also exposed rivets of discord within Europe and between the West and the Global South. —

Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'invasion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler

The first known use of invasion was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century