interloper
noun
in·ter·lop·er
ˌin-tər-ˈlō-pər 
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
But there is something in the air that even an outsider could feel at the rehearsal, which was open to donors and press interlopers.
—
Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
Her Sarah struggles to finish her latest detective novel, and matters worsen with the arrival of an interloper, the publisher’s daughter Julie (played by a wild-eyed Ludivine Sagnier).
—Gráinne O'Hara Belluomo, Footwear News, 26 May 2025
Dave Chronister, the CEO of the cybersecurity company Parameter Security, says that the government’s bespoke communications channels prevent other kinds of interlopers or hackers attempting to use phishing or malware techniques to learn information.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 26 Mar. 2025
Declan refuses to share a bedroom and a birthday with Brendan and regards him not as a brother but an interloper.
—Malcolm Forbes, Boston Herald, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for interloper
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Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
Her Sarah struggles to finish her latest detective novel, and matters worsen with the arrival of an interloper, the publisher’s daughter Julie (played by a wild-eyed Ludivine Sagnier).
—Gráinne O'Hara Belluomo, Footwear News, 26 May 2025
Dave Chronister, the CEO of the cybersecurity company Parameter Security, says that the government’s bespoke communications channels prevent other kinds of interlopers or hackers attempting to use phishing or malware techniques to learn information.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 26 Mar. 2025
Declan refuses to share a bedroom and a birthday with Brendan and regards him not as a brother but an interloper.
—Malcolm Forbes, Boston Herald, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for interloper
Cite this Entry
“Interloper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/interloper. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
interloper
noun
in·ter·lop·er
ˌint-ər-ˈlō-pər
ˈint-ər-ˌlō-pər
: a person who intrudes or interferes wrongly or meddlesomely
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