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 pair have denied the allegations, dismissing claims of an armed insurgency as fabricated.

From Barron's ● Aug. 30, 2026

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

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

Cepeda was central to Petro’s signature plan, Total Peace, designed to de-escalate conflict with the country’s hybrid groups that are part insurgencies, part drug gangs, each numbering thousands of fighters.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 25, 2026

"Our economy is in a shambles, society is deeply divided, we are facing two insurgencies," Farooq says.

From BBC ● May 7, 2026

Mali has faced insurgencies for years from the separatists in the north, and groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.

From BBC ● Apr. 27, 2026

Somaliland also stands out for its relative stability compared to the rest of the country, which has been plagued by Islamist insurgencies and clan conflicts for decades.

From Barron's ● Feb. 20, 2026

The Philippine Government faces threats   from armed communist insurgencies and from Muslim separtists in the   south.

From The 2004 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency

Related Words

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