ENGLISH
REFERENCE

invasive

adj. · n.
US //ˌɪnˈveɪsɪv// UK //ɪnvˈeɪsɪv// in·va·sive
  1. 1 biology/ecology (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Science

    describes a plant or animal that spreads quickly in a new place and harms the local environment.

    relating to a non-native species that spreads prolifically, often outcompeting indigenous flora or fauna and disrupting the local ecosystem.

    Example

    The park is struggling to remove invasive weeds that are killing the local flowers.

    Example

    Ecologists are concerned that the introduction of invasive carp will permanently alter the river's biodiversity by depleting the primary food sources of native fish.
  2. 2 medical procedure (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Medicine

    describes medical treatment or a test that involves cutting the skin or putting a tool inside the body.

    denoting a medical procedure that requires the entry of an instrument or substance into the body, typically through an incision or a natural orifice.

    Example

    The doctor suggested a scan first because it is less invasive than surgery.

    Example

    While the diagnostic benefits are significant, the patient was hesitant to undergo such an invasive procedure without exploring more conservative treatment options first.
    • non invasive
Show 3 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 privacy/rights (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    entering your private life or space in an annoying or upsetting way.

    tending to intrude on a person's privacy, autonomy, or individual rights.

    Example

    The new security cameras felt very invasive to the people living in the building.

    Example

    Critics argue that the new data-collection laws are unnecessarily invasive and grant the government too much access to private digital communications.
  2. 4 disease/cancer (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Medicine

    describes a disease or cancer that spreads quickly into healthy parts of the body.

    referring to a pathological growth, particularly a carcinoma, that spreads into and destroys healthy surrounding tissue.

    Example

    The tests showed that the cancer was invasive and had reached the nearby organs.

    Example

    The biopsy confirmed that the tumor was an invasive ductal carcinoma, necessitating a more aggressive course of chemotherapy and radiation.
  3. 5 an invasive species (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Science

    a plant or animal that has moved into a new area and is causing problems.

    an organism that is not native to a specific location and has a tendency to spread to a degree believed to cause damage to the environment.

    Example

    Gardeners are encouraged to pull up any invasives they find to protect the local woods.

    Example

    The management plan focuses on the early detection and rapid response to new invasives before they can establish self-sustaining populations in the wetlands.
Origin

PIE word *h₁én The adjective is derived from Middle English invasif (“of a weapon: offensive”), from Middle French invasif, Old French invasif (“invasive”) (modern French invasif), from Medieval Latin invāsīvus, from Latin invāsus (“entered; invaded”) + -īvus (suffix forming adjectives). Invāsus is the perfect passive participle of invādō (“to enter; to invade”), from in- (prefix meaning ‘in, inside’) + vādō (“to go; to rush; to walk”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *weh₂dʰ- (“to go, proceed; to pass, traverse”)). The noun is derived from the adjective.

© 2026 English Reference