invasive

The word “invasive” means tending to spread aggressively and cause harm, especially of species, diseases, or medical procedures. In plain terms, spreading aggressively and causing harm — used for species, diseases, cancers, or medical procedures that enter the body.

“Invasive” is pronounced ihn-VAY-sihv (/ɪnˈveɪsɪv/ in IPA).

Here is “invasive” used in a sentence: “The invasive weed choked out the native plants within a season.”

“Invasive” is an adjective.

The word “invasive” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin invāsīvus, from invāsus, past participle of invādō, "to invade.".

“Invasive” is an uncommon word in modern English.

Invasive specifically implies spreading into and taking over territory or space that isn't naturally its own, such as an invasive plant species overtaking native ones. Aggressive is broader, describing forceful or hostile behavior generally, without necessarily involving spreading or territory.

In medicine, an invasive procedure is one that involves entering the body, such as through an incision or insertion of instruments, as opposed to a non-invasive procedure that works from outside the body. Minimally invasive procedures aim to reduce this intrusion while still achieving the medical goal.

A species is called invasive when it spreads aggressively outside its natural habitat and causes ecological or economic harm, often by outcompeting native species. This differs from a species that is simply non-native but does not cause significant damage.