ENGLISH
REFERENCE

intruder

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˌɪnˈtɹudɝ// UK //ɪntɹˈuːdɐ// in·trud·er

n. a person who enters a place without permission, often to steal something or cause trouble.

n. a person who enters a building, grounds, or private property without invitation or legal right.


SIMPLE

The security alarm went off when the intruder broke a window.

CONTEXTUAL

The homeowner called the police after seeing an unknown intruder on the backyard security camera.

COMPLEX

While the motion sensors are designed to detect a human intruder, they are frequently triggered by local wildlife or swaying tree branches.

Synonyms
Origin

From intrude + -er.

Usage

Often used in legal or security contexts to distinguish between a guest and an unauthorised person.

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