1. Intrusion on a person's territory, rights, etc.: There are those who believe that there are too many encroachments of laws which are interfering with their individual liberties.

Greg is not happy that his job is causing so many encroachments on his family life.

2. A gradual advance beyond normal or acceptable limits: Erin is concerned about the encroachment of computer games on her son's life.

The small farmers of the agricultural area were resisting the encroachments of wealthy corporations that were trying to buy their farmlands.

The new censorship laws restricting access to the Internet by the government of Iran are encroachments on the freedom of the Iranian people to communicate with the rest of the world.

Iran has prevented access to services like Facebook and Twitter before, but this time the encroachments appear to be particularly widespread.

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