gatecrasher

IPA/ˈɡeɪtkræʃə(r)/
IPA/ˈɡeɪtkræʃər/

gatecrasher — noun

  • gatecrashersingular
  • gatecrashersplural

1. a person who attends a private social event — such as a party, wedding, or conce

1.nounB2
Definition

a person who attends a private social event — such as a party, wedding, or concert — without being invited or having a ticket.

Example

Grace spotted a gatecrasher near the buffet table and called security immediately.

spotted + called security — typical verb pattern

The wedding reception was ruined when a group of gatecrashers arrived drunk and started shouting.

passive: was ruined + group of gatecrashers

Common collocations
  • wedding gatecrasher
  • party gatecrasher
  • gatecrasher + turned away
  • gatecrasher + arrested
  • gatecrasher + escorted out
  • group of gatecrashers
Synonyms
  • intruder

    implies entering by force or illegally; stronger and more aggressive than gatecrasher

  • trespasser

    legal term for someone who enters private property without permission; focuses on the property violation, not the event

  • uninvited guest

    softer and more neutral; can describe anyone present without an invitation, not just at parties

Antonyms
  • invited guest

    someone who has been formally asked to attend

  • attendee

    a person who is officially present at an event, usually with an invitation or ticket

Grammar Patterns

often used in news headlines: [event] + gatecrasher

Usage Note

Frequently used in news reports and headlines, often modified by a noun describing the event (e.g. wedding gatecrashers, party gatecrasher).

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three compared words describe someone who is somewhere they should not be, but they differ in context and tone. A gatecrasher specifically crashes a social event like a party or wedding — there is an element of boldness or cheekiness. An intruder is someone who enters a place secretly or by force, often with criminal intent; the word feels more threatening than gatecrasher. A trespasser enters private land or property without legal right — this is a legal/boundary concept, not an event concept. Uninvited guest is the mildest option and can be used politely in social situations. For example: 'The gatecrasher danced with the bride before anyone realised.' — 'A trespasser was caught crossing the farmland.' — 'She felt like an uninvited guest at her own company party.'

intruder ↗trespasser ↗uninvited guest

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • group of gatecrashers
  • gatecrasher at a party

Etymology

English

A compound of 'gate' (the entrance to a building or event) and 'crasher' (someone who breaks in noisily). The term first appeared in early 20th-century American English, originally describing someone who forced their way into a party without an invitation, as if 'crashing through the gate'.