Gatecrashing

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The act of attending a party or event without having been invited or having a ticket
2. Going into a social gathering or function without permission or an entry pass
3. Gaining unauthorized admission to a celebration or event despite not having formal approval

Etymology: The verb "gatecrash" is a compound of "gate" and "crash," and its surprising part is how literal it once was. "Gate" traces back through Middle English and Old English "ġeat," an opening or passage, and "crash" is a much more recent addition, so the pairing describes someone bursting through an entrance rather than sneaking in quietly. The sense of forcing one's way past an entrance into a party or event without an invitation grew out of that physical image. The present participle "gatecrashing" simply takes the verb's form and is used as a noun for the act itself. Its parts are plain and transparent, which is why the word reads so directly: you can picture the door being barged open before you reach the definition.

Synonyms: trespassing, intruding, invading