insurgency

American  

[in-sur-juhn-see] / ɪnˈsɜr dʒən si /

noun

• insurgencies
  plural

1. the state or condition of being insurgent.

2. insurrection against an existing government, usually one's own, by a group not recognized as having the status of a belligerent.

3. rebellion within a group, as by members against leaders.

4. insurgence.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• insurgencies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of insurgency

First recorded in 1795–1805; insurg(ent) + -ency

Explanation

An insurgency is a movement within a country dedicated to overthrowing the government. An insurgency is a rebellion. Insurgencies are movements to overthrow governments. The United States was founded by an insurgency, when the colonies fought England for independence. In the Star Wars movies, the rebel forces stage an insurgency. Around the world, many insurgencies exist, using violent and other means. Insurgency is also used for less serious situations: for example, a rebellious group within a company, political party, or school could be called an insurgency. All insurgencies are made up of rebels.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

insurgency insurgencies

The insurgency is mainly led by the Barisan Revolusi Nasional.

From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026

Then, in a last-ditch effort to fend off Hong’s insurgency, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, who had previously suspended his campaign, reentered the race less than a month before polls opened.

From Slate ● Aug. 17, 2026

During the campaign, he leaned heavily into his self-proclaimed nickname "The Tiger," sharing AI-generated images of himself as a fanged tiger and the only candidate willing to wage war on crime and insurgency.

From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026

The militant leader threatened to target Saudi oil facilities if Riyadh, which led a coalition against the Houthi insurgency more than a decade ago, goes back to war in Yemen.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

Typically the subject was a well-to-do immigrant supporting some potential insurgency in his old land, or else funding a fledgling trade union or radical student organization.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee

Since 2012, Mali has been plagued by insurgencies and large parts of the north and east of the country remain outside government control.

From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026

He warned of a "spillover" of fighting from separate insurgencies in the neighbouring Sahel.

From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026

But his supporters credited him with a tough crackdown on violent insurgencies and implementation of social programmes to help some of the country's poorest.

From BBC ● Jun. 8, 2026

After years of insurgencies, residents in eastern Congo are accustomed to food shortages, inflation and destitution.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 16, 2026

Not quite perfect, for continually there arise little insurgencies, inadequacies and frictions to which in time it will succumb.

From The Glands Regulating Personality by Louis Berman M.D.

Related Words

• dissent
• insurrection
• mutiny
• revolt
• revolution
• uprising