French word

irruption

Pronunciation

IPA/iʁypsjɔ̃/

Meaning

  • feminine nounintrusion

Example

L'irruption nocturne dans la maison a alarmé les voisins.

The nighttime intrusion into the house alarmed the neighbors.

Illustration for irruption (intrusion)

More examples

Elle a fait irruption dans la conversation pour donner son avis.

She burst into the conversation to give her opinion.

Core concept

A sudden rush into a scene that overturns its previous calm or order.

Common phrases

  • faire irruption dans la conversation

    burst into the conversation

Similar words

intrusion: Entering another person's space without permission.
effraction: Illegal entry into a building by breaking a lock or window.

Definition in French

Désigne l'apparition soudaine d'un événement ou d'un groupe qui change brusquement une situation.

Word origin

The French noun irruption was borrowed from Latin irrūptiō, the noun of irrumpere, 'to burst in', from in- and rumpere, 'to break'.

Usage tips

  • Une irruption is feminine, and the word belongs more to formal or written French than to casual conversation.

Other meanings

  • incursionnoun
  • invasionnoun
  • influxnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word