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English

invasion

gb/ɪnvˈeɪʒən/ us/ɪnvˈeɪʒən/
B1 English
~ 7800
Senses
0 senses
Noun B1 event
1

military attack entering a place

When an army goes into another country or area to try to control it.

Usage pattern: an invasion of [a country/region]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"invasion to"* instead of *"invasion of"* when naming the place attacked. Say: *"the invasion of the country"*, not *"the invasion to the country"*.
Synonyms
attack (More general; does not always involve entering and taking control of land.) | incursion (Suggests a brief or limited invasion, often on a smaller scale.)
Antonyms
withdrawal (Refers to taking armed forces out of an area, the opposite of sending them in.)
Collocations
military invasion |foreign invasion |full-scale invasion |launch an invasion |threat of invasion |enemy invasion
Themes
war |politics |history |law
Examples
  • The country has been preparing for a possible invasion from its northern neighbor.
  • Allied forces began the invasion of the coast at dawn.
  • The surprise invasion caught the small nation completely off guard.
  • Many civilians fled the capital in the days before the invasion.
  • History books still debate whether the invasion was legally justified.
Learner examples
  • The invasion started early in the morning.
  • People left the city because they were afraid of an invasion.
  • The general planned an invasion of the island.
  • After the invasion, the army controlled the whole region.
Noun B2 event
2

large unwelcome arrival of many

When many people, animals, or things come into a place and make problems or big changes there.

Usage pattern: an invasion of [people/animals/things]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this sense with the military sense and think it is always about war. In everyday speech, *invasion* is often used in a lighter or humorous way for large numbers of people or insects, as in *"an invasion of tourists"*.
Synonyms
flood (Often used metaphorically for a sudden large number, but sounds more neutral and less hostile than "invasion".) | swarm (Suggests a moving mass of small creatures or people, often chaotic or annoying.)
Antonyms
departure (Focuses on people or things leaving a place, the opposite of arriving in large numbers.)
Collocations
tourist invasion |media invasion |an invasion of insects |an invasion of fans |an invasion of tourists |invasion of personal space
Themes
daily life |society |environment |core_vocabulary |daily_life
Examples
  • Every summer the small town braces for an invasion of tourists.
  • After the heavy rain, there was an invasion of mosquitoes in the neighborhood.
  • The pop star’s arrival led to an invasion of screaming fans at the airport.
  • Residents complained about the invasion of TV crews on their street.
  • The festival brought a welcome invasion of visitors to the usually quiet village.
Learner examples
  • In summer, there is an invasion of tourists in this city.
  • We had an invasion of ants in our kitchen.
  • The singer’s show caused an invasion of fans at the station.
  • The quiet town did not like the invasion of big shops.
Noun B2 event
3

unwanted intrusion into privacy or rights

When someone looks into or controls your private life or personal space in a way that is not right or not welcome.

Usage pattern: an invasion of [someone]’s privacy
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes omit the preposition *"of"* and say *"invasion privacy"*. The correct phrase is *"invasion of privacy"*. They may also use *"invasion"* alone where *"intrusion"* or *"interference"* sounds more natural; in legal and everyday English, the fixed phrase *"invasion of privacy"* is especially common.
Synonyms
intrusion (Stresses entering someone’s private area or life; slightly more formal and general than "invasion".) | violation (Focuses on breaking rules or rights, often used in legal or serious contexts.)
Antonyms
respect for privacy (Describes carefully not entering someone’s private life or space, the opposite attitude of invasion.)
Collocations
invasion of privacy |serious invasion of privacy |gross invasion of privacy |an invasion of civil liberties |an invasion of personal space |a shocking invasion of privacy
Themes
law |society |relationships |media
Examples
  • Publishing those photos without her consent was a clear invasion of privacy.
  • He felt that constant phone tracking by his employer was an invasion of his privacy.
  • Neighbors complained that the security cameras were an invasion of their privacy.
  • Asking such personal questions can be an invasion of someone’s privacy.
  • The law aims to protect citizens from invasion of privacy by companies.
Learner examples
  • The camera in the bathroom was a big invasion of privacy.
  • She said the questions were an invasion of her privacy.
  • Many people think that reading someone’s messages is an invasion of privacy.
  • He does not like the invasion of privacy from social media apps.
Noun technical C1 event
4

spread of cancer into tissue

When cancer or other bad cells go into and grow inside nearby healthy body tissue.

Usage pattern: the invasion of [a tissue/organ] by [cells]
Common mistake:
Learners may wrongly apply the everyday military meaning in medical texts. In medical contexts, *invasion* almost always refers to cells or disease spreading into nearby tissues, not armies or people.
Synonyms
penetration (A more general technical term for going into something; in medicine, may be used for cells or substances entering tissue.)
Antonyms
containment (Describes keeping disease cells from spreading beyond their original site, the opposite of invasion.)
Collocations
tumor invasion |cancer cell invasion |local invasion |deep tissue invasion |vascular invasion |invasion of surrounding tissue
Themes
health |science
Examples
  • The biopsy showed early invasion of surrounding tissue by the tumor.
  • Vascular invasion is associated with a higher risk of metastasis.
  • The pathologist’s report noted no evidence of lymphatic invasion.
  • Local invasion of the muscle layer was visible on the scan.
  • The treatment aims to prevent further invasion of healthy organs.
Learner examples
  • The doctor said there was invasion of the tissue by cancer cells.
  • They are studying how to stop cancer invasion in the body.
  • Early treatment can help prevent invasion of other organs.
  • The report shows no invasion of nearby tissue yet.
Noun technical C1 event
5

spread of non-native species

When plants, animals, or other living things from another place enter a new area, grow there, and often cause damage to the local nature.

Usage pattern: the invasion of [an ecosystem/area] by [a species]
Common mistake:
Learners may think *invasion* in environmental articles always means war. In ecology, it usually means non-native species entering and spreading in a new environment, often with negative effects.
Synonyms
colonization (In ecology, can describe a species establishing in a new area, but does not always suggest harm the way "invasion" often does.)
Antonyms
eradication (Refers to completely removing a harmful species from an area, counteracting invasion.)
Collocations
biological invasion |invasion of non-native species |invasion by invasive plants |invasion of freshwater ecosystems |invasion by alien species
Themes
environment |science |nature
Examples
  • The invasion of the lake by non-native fish has disrupted the food chain.
  • Researchers are monitoring the invasion of coastal wetlands by mangroves.
  • Global trade has accelerated the invasion of alien species worldwide.
  • The report highlights the economic costs of biological invasion in agriculture.
  • Early detection is critical to stop the invasion of invasive plants.
Learner examples
  • The invasion of new plants is a big problem for the forest.
  • Scientists study the invasion of non-native fish in the river.
  • The country makes rules to stop the invasion of foreign insects.
  • This invasion of new species hurts local animals and plants.
Grammar
Dictionary form
invasion
IPA
GB/ɪnvˈeɪʒən/
US/ɪnvˈeɪʒən/
Syllables & stress
in - va - sion (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (va)
Word forms
Noun
  • Base: invasion
  • Plural: invasion, invasions
Word family
Forms
invasions noun
Core family
invade verb B2 invader noun invasive adjective B2
Negative and opposite forms
noninvasive adjective
Advanced or less common
invasively adverb invasiveness noun
Expressions

invasion of privacy

1
/ɪnvˈeɪʒən əv pɹˈaɪvəsi/
fixed phrase

unwelcome intrusion into private life

When someone looks into or uses your private life, personal information, or personal space without your permission and in a wrong way.

Examples
  • Publishing those photos without consent was an invasion of privacy.
  • Many people see constant online tracking as an invasion of privacy.
  • She sued the magazine for invasion of privacy.
  • Publishing the emails without consent was a serious invasion of privacy.
  • Hidden cameras in the hotel rooms would be a clear invasion of privacy.
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