Standard Lemma guide

trespass

noun · verb · 15 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • US: trĕs'pǎs
  • US: /ˈtɹɛspæs/
  • US: /ˈtɹæspæs/
  • UK: trĕs'pəs
  • UK: /ˈtɹɛspəs/
  • UK: /ˈtɹɛspɪs/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: T R EH1 S P AE2 S Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: T R EH1 S P AH0 S Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An intentional interference with another's property or person.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: law

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

sin

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic, countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To commit an offence; to sin.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic, intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: transgress

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To offend against, to wrong (someone).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To go too far; to put someone to inconvenience by demand or importunity; to intrude.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • to trespass upon the time or patience of another

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cross the line

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To enter someone else's property illegally.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: law

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

To pass beyond a limit or boundary; hence, to depart; to go.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

Examples

  • 1523–1525, Jean Froissart, John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners (translator), Froissart's Chronicles Soon after this, noble Robert de Bruce [...] trespassed out of this uncertain world.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: exceed, surpass, transcend

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To subject [someone] to a trespass notice, formally notifying them that they are prohibited from entry to a property, such that any current or future presence there will constitute trespass, (especially) criminal trespass

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: New-Zealand, especially, transitive

Topics: law

Examples

  • The dean trespassed the streaker from his university.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

noun

Meaning 9

entry to another's property without right or permission

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: encroachment, violation, intrusion, usurpation

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: wrongdoing, wrongful conduct, misconduct, actus reus

Narrower terms: inroad

10

noun

Meaning 10

a wrongful interference with the possession of property (personal property as well as realty), or the action instituted to recover damages

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: tort, civil wrong

Narrower terms: continuing trespass, trespass de bonis asportatis, trespass on the case, trespass quare clausum fregit, trespass viet armis

11

verb

Meaning 11

pass beyond (limits or boundaries)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: transgress, overstep

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: pass, go through, go across

12

verb

Meaning 12

commit a sin; violate a law of God or a moral law

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: sin, transgress

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: transgress, offend, infract, violate, go against, breach, break

Narrower terms: fall

13

verb

Meaning 13

break the law

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: transgress, offend, infract, violate, go against, breach, break

14

verb

Meaning 14

make excessive use of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • You are taking advantage of my good will!
  • She is trespassing upon my privacy

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: take advantage

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: use

Narrower terms: impinge, encroach, entrench, trench

15

verb

Meaning 15

enter unlawfully on someone's property

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Don't trespass on my land!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: intrude

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: transgress, offend, infract, violate, go against, breach, break

Narrower terms: break in, break

History

Etymology

Borrowed into Middle English trespas, from Old French trespas (“passage; offense against the law”), from trespasser.

From Middle English trespassen, borrowed from Old French trespasser (“to go across or over, transgress”), from tres- (“across, over”) + passer (“to pass”).

Across languages

Translations

76 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: простъпка (prostǎpka) — law
  • Bulgarian: нарушение (narušenie) — law
  • Chinese Mandarin: 侵入 (qīnrù) — law
  • Dutch: huisvredebreuk — law
  • Finnish: kotirauhan rikkominen — law
  • Finnish: julkisrauhan rikkominen — law
  • German: Hausfriedensbruch — law
  • German: Landfriedensbruch — law
  • Greek: παράνομη είσοδος (paránomi eísodos) — law
  • Greek: παραβίαση (paravíasi) — law
  • Hebrew: הִסִּיג גְּבוּל (hisíg gvul) — law
  • Hindi: अतिक्रमण (atikramaṇ) — law
  • Hindi: अतिचार (aticār) — law
  • Hungarian: magánlaksértés — law
  • Hungarian: birtokháborítás — law
  • Irish: treaspás — law
  • Old Irish: caithig — law
  • Japanese: 不法侵入 (fufō-shinnyū) — law
  • Japanese: 侵入 (shinnyū) — law
  • Portuguese: invasão — law
  • Russian: посяга́тельство (posjagátelʹstvo) — law
  • Russian: наруше́ние (narušénije) — law
  • Scottish Gaelic: coire — law
  • Spanish: allanamiento — law
  • Spanish: traspaso — law
  • Spanish: invasión — law
  • Spanish: incursión — law
  • Welsh: tresmasiad — law
  • Bulgarian: нарушавам (narušavam) — to commit an offence
  • Finnish: rikkoa — to commit an offence
  • Greek: παραβαίνω (paravaíno) — to commit an offence
  • Hungarian: vétkezik — to commit an offence
  • Japanese: 侵害する (shingai suru) — to commit an offence
  • Māori: hara — to commit an offence
  • Portuguese: infringir — to commit an offence
  • Romanian: păcătui — to commit an offence
  • Romanian: viola — to commit an offence
  • Russian: посяга́ть (posjagátʹ) — to commit an offence
  • Russian: посягну́ть (posjagnútʹ) — to commit an offence
  • Russian: наруша́ть (narušátʹ) — to commit an offence
  • Russian: нару́шить (narúšitʹ) — to commit an offence
  • Spanish: ofender — to commit an offence
  • Spanish: pecar — to commit an offence
  • Vietnamese: vi phạm — to commit an offence
  • Finnish: rikkoa — (obsolete in English) to offend against
  • Japanese: 侵害する (shingai suru) — (obsolete in English) to offend against
  • Portuguese: ofender — (obsolete in English) to offend against
  • Spanish: ofender — (obsolete in English) to offend against
  • Finnish: mennä liian pitkälle — to go too far
  • Hungarian: visszaél — to go too far
  • Chinese Mandarin: 侵入 (qīnrù) — legal: to enter someone else's property illegally
  • Finnish: tunkeutua — legal: to enter someone else's property illegally
  • German: unbefugt betreten — legal: to enter someone else's property illegally
  • German: unerlaubt betreten — legal: to enter someone else's property illegally
  • German: eindringen — legal: to enter someone else's property illegally
  • German: übertreten — legal: to enter someone else's property illegally
  • Greek: καταπατώ (katapató) — legal: to enter someone else's property illegally
  • Greek: εισέρχομαι παρανόμως (eisérchomai paranómos) — legal: to enter someone else's property illegally
  • Hungarian: birtokháborítást/magánlaksértést követ el — legal: to enter someone else's property illegally
  • Hungarian: behatol a birtokára — legal: to enter someone else's property illegally
  • Japanese: 不法侵入する (fufō-shinnyū suru) — legal: to enter someone else's property illegally
  • Korean: 불법 침입하다 (bulbeop chimiphada) — legal: to enter someone else's property illegally
  • Māori: kaihaumi — legal: to enter someone else's property illegally
  • Māori: haere pokanoa — legal: to enter someone else's property illegally
  • Portuguese: invadir — legal: to enter someone else's property illegally
  • Portuguese: trespassar — legal: to enter someone else's property illegally
  • Spanish: entrar sin autorización — legal: to enter someone else's property illegally
  • Spanish: entrar no autorizadamente — legal: to enter someone else's property illegally
  • Spanish: traspasar — legal: to enter someone else's property illegally
  • Spanish: violar — legal: to enter someone else's property illegally
  • Spanish: invadir — legal: to enter someone else's property illegally
  • Spanish: translimitar — legal: to enter someone else's property illegally
  • Spanish: allanar — legal: to enter someone else's property illegally
  • Spanish: catear — legal: to enter someone else's property illegally
  • Swedish: inkräkta — legal: to enter someone else's property illegally
  • Vietnamese: xâm phạm — legal: to enter someone else's property illegally
Real reading context

trespass in complete knowledge articles