tres·pass
ˈtre-ˌspas 
also
-spəs
trespassed; trespassing; trespasses
1
: to commit a trespass
especially
: to enter unlawfully upon the land of another
: violate
trespass the bounds of good taste
trespasser
noun
1
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
2
a
: a violation of moral or social ethics : transgression
especially
: sin
b
: an unwarranted infringement
Synonyms
Examples of trespass in a Sentence
Verb
He told me I was trespassing.
The sign said “No Trespassing.”
Noun
He was arrested for trespass.
forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us
Recent Examples on the Web
Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2024
The police department responded to 18 calls from residents during the last two months of 2023 about people in vehicles trespassing on private property.
—Ben Brasch, Washington Post, 19 Mar. 2024
Although the bill does not mention immigrants, its sponsor, Republican Rep. Justin Heap, said in a committee hearing that his bill was intended to close a loophole to assist ranchers who may witness someone trespassing any section of their land, not just within a mile of their home.
—Suzanne Gamboa, NBC News, 29 Feb. 2024
Related Articles Pierce Brosnan faces federal charges after allegedly trespassing in ‘delicate’ Yellowstone hot spring
Alaska’s Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve, located 200 miles (322 kilometers) north of Fairbanks, stretches over 8.4 million acres.
—Cnn.com, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2024
As the Attorney’s office noted, the ground in the thermal areas is fragile, while the water below is boiling hot, putting those who trespass in danger while also potentially compromising the preservation efforts of the thermal areas.
—Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2024
Enbridge contends the judge didn’t have the authority to threaten a shutdown order and that the company is not trespassing on the Band's land.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2024
In September 2022, U.S. District Judge William M. Conley ruled that Enbridge was trespassing on the Band's land, but did not shut the pipeline down.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2024
One of the disruptors made it all the way to the San Francisco 49ers' sideline, where he was subdued, while his partner in crime — literally, this is trespassing — was tackled by a team of security staffers near the 10-yard line by the Chiefs’ end zone.
—Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, 12 Feb. 2024
Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2024
Enbridge said this means the Line 5 pipeline is not in trespass.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2024
The 38-year-old Delaware man was charged with criminal trespass, theft by taking, fleeing or attempting to elude, reckless driving, second degree criminal damage to property, and obstruction of a law enforcement officer, officials said.
—Mark Price, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2024
He is charged with criminal trespass, public intoxication and disorderly conduct.
—The Enquirer, 5 Apr. 2024
Singapore police posted a statement about the event, claiming that four fans—two men and two women—are currently under investigation for criminal trespass.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024
The man who urinated on the flag has been charged with ethnic intimidation, criminal mischief, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 27 Feb. 2024
And yet Maxine is a good person, whose schemes and trespasses one does not quite forgive, but makes allowances for against hopeful future corrections.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024
Johnson is facing charges in Butler County Area 1 Court, including underage possession of alcohol, criminal trespass, resisting arrest and assault, according to court records.
—Erin Glynn, The Enquirer, 12 Jan. 2024
Verb
Enbridge should be required to promptly leave our Reservation, just like other companies that have trespassed on tribal land.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2024
The police department responded to 18 calls from residents during the last two months of 2023 about people in vehicles trespassing on private property.
—Ben Brasch, Washington Post, 19 Mar. 2024
Although the bill does not mention immigrants, its sponsor, Republican Rep. Justin Heap, said in a committee hearing that his bill was intended to close a loophole to assist ranchers who may witness someone trespassing any section of their land, not just within a mile of their home.
—Suzanne Gamboa, NBC News, 29 Feb. 2024
Related Articles Pierce Brosnan faces federal charges after allegedly trespassing in ‘delicate’ Yellowstone hot spring
Alaska’s Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve, located 200 miles (322 kilometers) north of Fairbanks, stretches over 8.4 million acres.
—Cnn.com, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2024
As the Attorney’s office noted, the ground in the thermal areas is fragile, while the water below is boiling hot, putting those who trespass in danger while also potentially compromising the preservation efforts of the thermal areas.
—Ethan Millman, Rolling Stone, 15 Mar. 2024
Enbridge contends the judge didn’t have the authority to threaten a shutdown order and that the company is not trespassing on the Band's land.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2024
In September 2022, U.S. District Judge William M. Conley ruled that Enbridge was trespassing on the Band's land, but did not shut the pipeline down.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2024
One of the disruptors made it all the way to the San Francisco 49ers' sideline, where he was subdued, while his partner in crime — literally, this is trespassing — was tackled by a team of security staffers near the 10-yard line by the Chiefs’ end zone.
—Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, 12 Feb. 2024
Noun
The International Dark Sky Society, founded in 1988, works to raise awareness of light pollution and to promote responsible lighting to reduce glare, light trespass and night glow.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2024
Enbridge said this means the Line 5 pipeline is not in trespass.
—Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2024
The 38-year-old Delaware man was charged with criminal trespass, theft by taking, fleeing or attempting to elude, reckless driving, second degree criminal damage to property, and obstruction of a law enforcement officer, officials said.
—Mark Price, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2024
He is charged with criminal trespass, public intoxication and disorderly conduct.
—The Enquirer, 5 Apr. 2024
Singapore police posted a statement about the event, claiming that four fans—two men and two women—are currently under investigation for criminal trespass.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 7 Mar. 2024
The man who urinated on the flag has been charged with ethnic intimidation, criminal mischief, criminal trespass and disorderly conduct, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 27 Feb. 2024
And yet Maxine is a good person, whose schemes and trespasses one does not quite forgive, but makes allowances for against hopeful future corrections.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024
Johnson is facing charges in Butler County Area 1 Court, including underage possession of alcohol, criminal trespass, resisting arrest and assault, according to court records.
—Erin Glynn, The Enquirer, 12 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'trespass.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to trespass
Dictionary Entries Near trespass
Cite this Entry
“Trespass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trespass. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
trespass
1 of 2 noun
tres·pass
ˈtres-pəs
-ˌpas
1
2
: an unlawful act committed on the person, property, or rights of another
especially
: unlawful entry on someone else's land
trespass
2 of 2 verb1
: err sense 1, sin
2
: to commit a trespass
especially
: to enter unlawfully upon the land of another
trespasser
noun
Legal Definition
trespass
1 of 2 noun
tres·pass
ˈtres-pəs, -ˌpas
: wrongful conduct causing harm to another: as
a
: a willful act or active negligence as distinguished from a mere omission of a duty that causes an injury to or invasion of the person, rights, or especially property of another
also
: the common-law form of action for redress of injuries directly caused by such a wrongful act compare trespass on the case in this entry
b
: trespass quare clausum fregit in this entry
—
computer trespass
: the act of using or gaining access to a computer or computer network without authorization especially for the purpose of committing a crime or harming or removing programs, data, or hardware
—
continuing trespass
: a trespass that continues until the act (as of depriving another of his or her property without the intent to steal it) or instrumentality (as an object placed wrongfully on another's land) causing it is ended or removed
—
criminal trespass
: trespass to property that is forbidden by statute and punishable as a crime as distinguished from trespass that creates a cause of action for damages
—
trespass ab initio
: a trespass that arises upon a lawful act which because of subsequent unlawful or wrongful conduct is deemed under a legal fiction to have been trespassory from the beginning
—
trespass de bonis asportatis
\
-dē-ˈbō-nis-ˌas-pȯr-ˈtā-tis, -dā-ˈbō-nēs-ˌäs-pȯr-ˈtä-tēs
\
probably from Medieval Latin (trangressio) de bonis asportatis (trespass) concerning property carried off
: a common-law form of action to recover for trespass involving the carrying off of one's goods by another
—
trespass on the case
: a common-law form of action to recover for another's wrongful act that indirectly causes one's injury
called also action on the case, case
—
trespass quare clausum fregit
\
-ˈkwer-ē-ˈklȯ-zəm-ˈfrē-jət, -ˈkwä-rā-ˈklau̇-su̇m-ˈfrā-gēt
\
probably from Medieval Latin (transgressio) quare clausum fregit (trespass) whereby he or she broke into a close (tenement protected by law of trespass)
: a trespass that involves wrongful and tortious entry on another's real property
—
trespass to try title
: an action brought as a means of obtaining redress for a trespass to real property and determining the title to the property
—
trespass vi et armis
\
-ˈvī-ˌet-ˈär-mis, -ˈvē-, -ˌmēs
\
Latin vi et armis with force and arms
: a trespass involving intentional infliction of injury on a person
trespass
2 of 2 intransitive verb
: to commit a trespass
especially
: to enter wrongfully or without proper authority or consent upon the real property of another
: to commit a trespass against
Etymology
Noun
Anglo-French trespas violation of the law, actionable wrong, from Old French, crossing, passage, from trespasser to go across, from tres across + passer to pass
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