guerrilla

or gue·ril·la

[ guh-ril-uh ]

noun

1. a member of a band of irregular soldiers that uses guerrilla warfare, harassing the enemy by surprise raids, sabotaging communication and supply lines, etc.

adjective

1. pertaining to such fighters or their technique of warfare: guerrilla tactics.

   guerrilla strongholds;

   guerrilla tactics.

2. of or relating to an unauthorized, edgy, or disruptive version of an activity: guerilla gardening to beautify an abandoned lot.

   guerrilla filmmaking on a busy sidewalk;

   guerilla gardening to beautify an abandoned lot.

guerrilla

/ ɡəˈrɪlə /

noun

1. 1. a member of an irregular usually politically motivated armed force that combats stronger regular forces, such as the army or police
   2. ( as modifier )

      guerrilla warfare

2. See phalanx
   a form of vegetative spread in which the advance is from several individual rhizomes or stolons growing rapidly away from the centre, as in some clovers Compare phalanx

Derived Forms

• guerˈrillaism, noun

Other Words From

• guer·ril·la·ism noun
• an·ti·guer·ril·la noun adjective
• coun·ter·guer·ril·la adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of guerrilla¹

First recorded in 1800–10; from Spanish, diminutive of guerra “war” (of Germanic origin) + -illa diminutive suffix; originally in reference to the Spanish resistance against Napoleon; the name for the struggle erroneously taken as a personal noun; war ¹, -elle

Word History and Origins

Origin of guerrilla¹

C19: from Spanish, diminutive of guerra war

Example Sentences

Obfuscation tactics are a sort of guerrilla warfare approach to the lack of privacy protections.

From MIT Technology Review

In the face of the military onslaught, Sharpe soon lost control of his followers, and what followed were weeks of guerrilla fighting, crop burning and executions of resisters.

From Ozy

Although the federal government now controls key towns in the region, the conflict still continues within its urban areas, with TPLF shifting to a guerrilla battle tactics.

From Quartz

He organized men from Jones, Jasper, Covington and Smith counties into a guerrilla band known as the Knight Company.

From Ozy

Newsjacking is one of the varieties of guerrilla marketing that provides unobtrusive advertising.

From Search Engine Watch

The company decided to use what Okochi calls “guerrilla marketing.”

From The Daily Beast

It has been inaccessible for weeks as Israeli bombardment and troops try to take out heavy guerrilla resistance.

From The Daily Beast

Guerrilla forces have been taking people hostage since warfare began.

From The Daily Beast

The White House is leaning toward providing Ukraine with guerrilla-like arms such as IEDs, mortars, small arms and grenades.

From The Daily Beast

Another plausible and perhaps less risky measure: help prepare Ukrainians for guerrilla war against an invading Russian force.

From The Daily Beast

From the very first of the war their work was to help exterminate the guerrilla bands which infested the State.

From Project Gutenberg

The guerrilla loss he reported at fifty-two left dead on the field and one hundred and twenty-five wounded.

From Project Gutenberg

He is said to be making for Kirksville, where he expects to be joined by the guerrilla bands of northwestern Missouri.

From Project Gutenberg

With a groan and a curse the guerrilla chieftain yielded himself a prisoner.

From Project Gutenberg

The new day had hardly begun when the guerrilla hordes poured down on Foster's little army, confident of an easy victory.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• commando
• mercenary
• terrorist