Vocabulary Builder — Essay & Answer Writing
Encroachment
noun
/ en-KROCH-ment /
Medium
Meaning
The act of gradually intruding on or beyond the proper or legitimate limits of someone else's territory, rights, or domain
Origin / Etymology
Old French encrochier — en (on) + croc (hook); to seize with a hook
Synonyms
Intrusion
Trespass
Infringement
Overreach
Antonyms
Restraint
Respect (of boundaries)
Example Sentence
"The Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled against executive encroachment on judicial independence, holding that the judiciary must have primacy in its own appointments process."
🎯 UPSC Usage
Versatile for GS2. Contexts: (1) Constitutional — executive encroachment on judiciary or legislature; (2) Centre-State — central encroachment on state subjects; (3) Environmental — encroachment on forest land, wetlands, coastal zones under CRZ notification; (4) Land rights — encroachment on tribal land. In each context, encroachment implies illegitimacy.
Relevant Subjects