noun
infestation
in-feh-STAY-shun/ˌɪnfeˈsteɪʃn/
The presence of pests in damaging numbers.
The cockroach infestation fills the kitchen drawer with crawling pests.
Etymology
The underlying verb meant to attack or trouble. Its later sense of swarming over something or attacking parasitically connects that hostile activity with the presence of unwanted pests.
In context
To find out how bad the rat infestation was, we installed a trail camera in the basement.
More examples
- The restaurant closes temporarily to treat a cockroach infestation.
- An aphid infestation is damaging the rosebushes.
- Regular inspections help us catch bedbug infestations early.
Forms
infestation · infestations
infest verb — To occupy a place in harmful numbers.
Similar words
- invasion
- Emphasizes pests entering a place rather than their established presence.
- outbreak
- Emphasizes a sudden increase in pests rather than ongoing presence.