Meaning & use
intrusion
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Meanings
nouncountable or uncountable
An unwelcome arrival or interruption that disturbs a person, place or situation.
Grammar: Countable for a particular event: an intrusion; uncountable for the general idea.
Patterns
- an intrusion into something
- an intrusion on something
- intrusion by someone
The reporters' presence felt like an intrusion into the family's grief.
Pardon the intrusion, but I think you dropped this.
She resented the intrusion on her free time.
nouncountable or uncountable
The act of entering a building, area or computer system without permission.
Grammar: Often used in security contexts: an intrusion alarm.
Patterns
- intrusion into something
- intrusion detection
The alarm sounded when the system detected an intrusion.
The company reported an intrusion into its network.
Police investigated the intrusion at the warehouse.
nouncountabletechnical
Rock formed when melted material pushes into existing layers underground and hardens there.
Grammar: Geology term; the thing formed is an igneous intrusion.
Patterns
- an intrusion of something
The mountain was formed by an intrusion of granite.
Geologists mapped the intrusion beneath the valley.
Word forms
| plural | intrusions |
|---|
Common combinations
- an intrusion into privacy
- Constant tracking is an intrusion into people's privacy.
- an unwelcome intrusion
- The phone call was an unwelcome intrusion at dinner.
- intrusion detection
- The bank installed intrusion detection software.
- forgive the intrusion
- Please forgive the intrusion, but may I ask a question?
- a rude intrusion
- The noise from the street was a rude intrusion on the quiet morning.
Synonyms and how they differ
- interruption
- Interruption is about breaking into something in progress, while intrusion implies entering where you are not welcome.
- invasion
- Invasion is stronger and suggests a large-scale or aggressive entry, such as invasion of privacy or of a country.
- trespass
- Trespass is a legal term for entering someone's land without permission, whereas intrusion is wider and not always illegal.
- encroachment
- Encroachment describes a gradual slide beyond limits, while an intrusion can be a sudden event.
Word family
Commonly confused: intrusion or extrusion? intrusion or inclusion?
intrusion vs extrusion
Extrusion means pushing material out through a shape, like plastic through a mold. Intrusion is entering or pushing in.
intrusion vs inclusion
Inclusion is being part of a group, which is welcome, while intrusion is unwelcome entry.
Practice
The journalist apologized for the ___ into the family's private grief.
Choose one answer.
Intrusion into privacy is the set collocation. Introduction and instruction do not suit an apology for disturbing someone, and inclusion is a welcome act.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “intrusion”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.