formal 10K+

Incursion

UK //ɪnˈkɜːʃən// US //ɪnˈkɜrʒən// Pronunciation

Definition

An invasion or attack, typically a sudden or brief one.

Listen to definition

In simple words: An invasion or a sudden attack.

Examples

• The army launched an incursion into enemy territory last night.
• The wildlife park reported an incursion of poachers last week.
• A sudden incursion of hostile forces disrupted the peace talks.
• During the incursion, several valuable artifacts were stolen from the museum.
• The politician addressed concerns regarding the incursion of foreign companies into local markets.

Usage notes

Used in formal contexts, often in military or legal discussions. Avoid in casual conversations.

Grammar pattern

noun + -ion suffix

Memory hint

Think of a 'cur' sneaking in, like an incursion of unwanted animals.

Collocations

• military incursion
• border incursion
• incursion into territory
• sudden incursion
• illegal incursion

Synonyms

• invasion
• raid
• attack
• intrusion
• penetration

Common mistakes

• Confused with 'incursion' vs 'incursion of' context usage.
• Mispronunciation, especially with stress on wrong syllable.
• Overusing in everyday speech instead of simpler terms.