intifada
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of intifada
1988; < Arabic intif āḍa literally, a shaking off, derivative of f āḍa to shake off
Explanation
An intifada is an organized rebellion against an authority. The word is most often used to talk about the two Palestinian intifadas against the Israeli government. Intifada is from the Arabic intafada, "to shake off." It was first used for a 1952 Iraqi uprising against that country's monarchy. A rebellion in 1987, in which Palestinians demonstrated against the Israeli government, attempting to "shake off" Israel’s presence in the West Bank and Gaza, is known as the First Intifada. It was followed by the Second Intifada in 2000, after a peace summit failed to end in agreement between Israelis and Palestinians.
Vocabulary lists containing intifada
The Middle East and Central Asia - Middle School
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The Middle East and Central Asia - High School
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Muslim Empires and the Middle East - High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He was arrested exactly 24 years ago, at the height of the Palestinians' second intifada, or uprising.
From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026
The term intifada came into popular use during the Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 1987.
From BBC • Dec. 17, 2025
An analysis of 30 major U.S. print and broadcast outlets over four years – from 2000 to 2004 – found that the coverage lacked this important context during the second intifada.
From Salon • Mar. 1, 2024
Stefanik then asked Kornbluth whether she had heard demonstrators calling for an intifada.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 12, 2023
Direct negotiations to determine the permanent status of Gaza and West Bank began in September 1999 after a three-year hiatus, but were derailed by a second intifada that broke out in September 2000.
From The 2006 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
