First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
1trespass
noun tres·pass \ˈtres-pəs, -ˌpas\
law : the crime of going on someone's land without permission
: a sin or other wrong or improper act
Full Definition of TRESPASS
1
a : a violation of moral or social ethics : transgression; especially : sin b : an unwarranted infringement
2
a : an unlawful act committed on the person, property, or rights of another; especially : a wrongful entry on real property b : the legal action for injuries resulting from trespass
See trespass defined for English-language learners
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Origin of TRESPASS
Middle English trespas, from Anglo-French, passage, overstepping, misdeed, from trespasser
Related to TRESPASS
- Synonyms
- breach, crime, debt, error, lawbreaking, malefaction, misdeed, misdoing, sin, transgression, offense, violation, wrongdoing
- Antonyms
- noncrime
Rhymes with TRESPASS
admass, air mass, alas, Alsace, amass, art glass, avgas, badass, bagasse, beach grass, bear grass, bent grass, black bass, Black Mass, bluegrass, bromegrass, bunchgrass, bypass, cheatgrass, cordgrass, crabgrass, crevasse, cuirass, cut glass, cut-grass, declass, degas, drop pass, Drygas, eelgrass, en masse, eyeglass, first-class, flint glass, float glass, folk mass, ground glass, groundmass, hand glass, harass, hard-ass, haul ass, high-class, high mass, hourglass, impasse, jackass, jump pass, kelp bass, kick ass, kick-ass, knotgrass, landmass, lead glass, low mass, Madras, milk glass, morass, nut grass, oat grass, outclass, outgas, palliasse, pier glass, plate glass, quartz glass, red mass, repass, rest mass, ribgrass, rock bass, ryegrass, salt grass, sandglass, saw grass, screen pass, sea bass, sheet glass, smart-ass, South Pass, spot pass, spun glass, spyglass, stained glass, star grass, striped bass, subclass, sunglass, sung mass, surpass, sweetgrass, switchgrass, sword grass, teargas, third-class, Troas, turfgrass, wheatgrass, white bass, wineglass, wire grass, wiseass, witchgrass, word class, world-class, yard grass
2trespass
verb \-ˌpas also -pəs\
: to go on someone's land without permission
: to do something that hurts or offends someone
: to treat someone unfairly especially by asking for or expecting more than is fair or reasonable
Full Definition of TRESPASS
intransitive verb
2
: to commit a trespass; especially : to enter unlawfully upon the land of another
transitive verb
: violate <trespass the bounds of good taste>
— tres·pass·er noun
See trespass defined for English-language learners
Origin of TRESPASS
Synonym Discussion of TRESPASS
trespass, encroach, infringe, invade mean to make inroads upon the property, territory, or rights of another. trespass implies an unwarranted or unlawful intrusion <hunters trespassing on farmland>. encroach suggests gradual or stealthy entrance upon another's territory or usurpation of another's rights or possessions <the encroaching settlers displacing the native peoples>. infringe implies an encroachment clearly violating a right or prerogative <infringing a copyright>. invade implies a hostile and injurious entry into the territory or sphere of another <accused of invading their privacy>.
TRESPASSING Defined for Kids
1trespass
noun tres·pass \ˈtres-pəs, -ˌpas\
2trespass
verb
tres·passedtres·pass·ing
Definition of TRESPASS for Kids
1
: to enter upon someone's land unlawfully
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