insurgent

American  

[in-sur-juhnt] / ɪnˈsɜr dʒənt /

noun

1. a person who rises in forcible opposition to lawful authority, especially a person who engages in armed resistance to a government or to the execution of its laws; rebel.

2. a member of a section of a political party that revolts against the methods or policies of the party.

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adjective

1. of or characteristic of an insurgent or insurgents.

   Synonyms:

   mutinous, revolutionary, rebellious

2. surging or rushing in.

   The insurgent waves battered the shore.

insurgent British  

/ ɪnˈsɜːdʒənt /

adjective

1. rebellious or in revolt, as against a government in power or the civil authorities

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noun

1. a person who takes part in an uprising or rebellion; insurrectionist

2. international law a person or group that rises in revolt against an established government or authority but whose conduct does not amount to belligerency

Other Word Forms

• insurgency noun

Etymology

Origin of insurgent

1755–65; < Latin insurgent- (stem of insurgēns ) present participle of insurgere to get up, ascend, rebel. See in- ², surge, -ent

Example Sentences

For nearly two decades, Nepal's political landscape was dominated by veteran leaders -- many of them former Maoist insurgents -- who took turns in power since the end of a 10-year civil war in 2006.

From Barron's

"The assertion that ransom was delivered by helicopter to insurgents, with cross-border confirmation of receipt, is fiction," Idris said in the statement.

From BBC

The offensive saw major successes against the insurgents, but locals like Hersi say the militias that replaced them proved to be even worse.

From Barron's

It’s early, and the contest will attract upstarts, insurgents and opportunists.

From The Wall Street Journal

Those delegates went on to back reforms to the party's primary process that made it easier for insurgent candidacies like Jackson to compete for the party's presidential nomination without backing from the Democratic establishment.

From BBC

Related Words

• demonstrator
• mutineer
• radical
• revolutionary
• rioter