infiltrate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "infiltrate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone or something is entering or penetrating a group, organization, or system, often secretly or stealthily. Example: "The detective was assigned to infiltrate the criminal organization to gather evidence against its leaders."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I know that we're challenged by falling commodity prices and the iron ore price does infiltrate the Australian economy – but it's an idea worth considering, it's not one that I'm expert upon so I'll leave it to the iron ore producers".

The Guardian

The cash-for-tweets row is just the latest manifestation of the fact that we're so inured to advertising that many companies prefer to infiltrate editorial instead.

The Guardian - Opinion

But the Stand Up to Ukip group claims the insider went even further than just trying to infiltrate their activities and tried to encourage the campaigners to behave badly and abuse Farage, which could potentially have discredited them.

The Guardian

The long-running police operation to infiltrate political groups continued to unravel this week, after the Director of Public Prosecutions disclosed that a second group of environmental campaigners may have wrongly convicted.

The Guardian

Corey Haim plays Griffin, a pizza delivery boy recruited by the cops to infiltrate a band of white-supremacist rollerbladers.

The Guardian - Film

The watchdog has refused to say how many undercover officers are being used to infiltrate political groups.

The Guardian

"I made the quite obvious observation that the commodity price decrease is having an impact on our economy, that iron ore prices infiltrate our entire economy, but any ideas to assist would be worth considering," the deputy Liberal party leader told parliament.

The Guardian

The official watchdog, the Independent Police Complaints Commission, said :"We are concerned by the allegations regarding the manner in which two officers of Cambridgeshireshire Constabulary have allegedly attempted to recruit informants to infiltrate various political organisations".

The Guardian

The blacklisted workers want the allegations examined by the public inquiry that has been established into the police's use of undercover officers to infiltrate hundreds of political groups.

The Guardian

On the specific issue of sexual relations between undercover officers and members of groups they were attempting to infiltrate Herbert said: "The RIPA statutory guidance does not explicitly cover the matter of sexual relationships, but it does make it clear that close management and control should be exercised by the undercover officer's management team".

The Guardian - Opinion

But the remarks also reflect her government's systematic resort to anti-democratic measures to break the resistance of Britain's most powerful union: from the use of the police and security services to infiltrate and undermine the miners' union to the manipulation of the courts and media to discredit and tie the hands of its leaders.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "infiltrate", ensure the context clearly indicates the target being entered and the manner of entry, emphasizing stealth or secrecy.

Common error

Avoid using "infiltrate" when simply entering a place without a hidden agenda. Use a more neutral term like "enter" or "join" if there is no element of secrecy or intent to deceive.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "infiltrate" is as a verb, describing the action of secretly entering or penetrating a group or organization. As Ludwig confirms, it's generally regarded as correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "infiltrate" is a versatile verb used to describe the act of secretly or gradually entering a group or organization, often for espionage or subversive purposes. As Ludwig AI states, the word is considered correct in English and is very commonly found in news and media, formal business, and scientific contexts. While alternatives like "penetrate" or "invade" exist, "infiltrate" emphasizes the covert nature of the entry. When using "infiltrate", it's essential to maintain clarity and specify the target. Avoid using "infiltrate" in neutral contexts, instead using alternatives such as "enter" or "join".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

penetrate

Suggests a forceful entry or passage into something.

access covertly

Highlights the hidden or secret nature of gaining entry.

go undercover

Highlights the act of concealing one's identity to gain access.

permeate

Implies spreading or diffusing throughout something.

gain access secretly

Focuses on obtaining entry without being detected.

invade

Emphasizes hostile entry and occupation.

enter stealthily

Emphasizes the quiet and cautious manner of entry.

worm one's way into

Suggests a slow and subtle entry, often to gain trust.

slip into

Implies a discreet or unnoticed entry.

embed oneself in

Focuses on becoming deeply integrated within a group or organization.

FAQs

How is "infiltrate" typically used in a sentence?

The verb "infiltrate" is used to describe the act of entering a place or organization secretly and gradually, especially in order to acquire secret information. For example: "The spy's mission was to "infiltrate" the enemy camp."

What can I say instead of "infiltrate"?

You can use alternatives like "penetrate", "permeate", or "invade" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to use "infiltrate" when talking about positive actions?

While "infiltrate" often carries a negative connotation due to its association with espionage and subterfuge, it can be used in more neutral contexts where the entry is simply gradual or subtle, though it is still most commonly used in negative or secretive scenarios.

What's the difference between "infiltrate" and "invade"?

"Invade" suggests a forceful entry, often with the intent of taking over. "Infiltrate", on the other hand, implies a more subtle, gradual, and often secret entry. For example, you might "invade" a country, but you would "infiltrate" a spy network.