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Definition of gatecrash

gatecrash

/ˈɡeɪt.kræʃ/
gate · crash
Past Simple:gatecrashed
•
Past Participle:gatecrashed
•
Present Participle:gatecrashing
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gatecrash Lexical Profile

gatecrash Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To attend a social event, party, or gathering without an invitation or ticket.

Example

"A group of college students tried to gatecrash the exclusive charity gala at the hotel."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for gatecrash

• Nearby Words

gat
gate
gateau
gatecrash
gatecrasher
gated
gatefold

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 20th century as a back-formation from "gatecrasher," originally referring to attending an event without a ticket by forcing one's way past the entrance gate.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Gatecrash. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/gatecrash
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