interloper

noun

in·​ter·​lop·​er ˌin-tər-ˈlō-pər How to pronounce interloper (audio)
ˈin-tər-ˌlō-
: one that interlopes: such as
a
: one that intrudes in a place or sphere of activity
b
: an illegal or unlicensed trader

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The History of Interloper

The -loper part of interloper is believed to be either from an English dialectal word meaning "leap" or from a Dutch word meaning "to run." (The prefix inter- means "between" or "among.") An interloper is essentially one that jumps into the midst of things without an invitation to do so.

Examples of interloper in a Sentence

I had hoped to help my neighbors, but they regarded me as an interloper. summer residents were regarded as interlopers who had no deep commitment to the town's welfare
Recent Examples on the Web Unwelcome in Paris, where they are seen as interlopers from the fringes, the Cassar children traverse the globe, seeking to assuage their lost sense of belonging through the myth of a perfect love. The New Yorker, 12 June 2024 Even before independence, however, a counter-movement called the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) took the opposite position: that India is a state for Hindus, with Muslims and other religious minorities positioned as interlopers (or worse). Zack Beauchamp, Vox, 28 May 2024 That some owner-drivers committed suicide doesn’t seem to bother these interlopers. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2024 Keeping all that voting interesting to the audience is one obstacle, helped by the fact that the cast is in the dark about the results themselves and has to mentally prepare for perhaps being chosen as a lover, murderer or strange interloper. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 22 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for interloper 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'interloper.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1590, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of interloper was circa 1590

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Dictionary Entries Near interloper

Cite this Entry

“Interloper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interloper. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.

Kids Definition

interloper

noun
in·​ter·​lop·​er ˌint-ər-ˈlō-pər How to pronounce interloper (audio)
ˈint-ər-ˌlō-pər
: a person who intrudes or interferes wrongly or meddlesomely

More from Merriam-Webster on interloper

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