rebellion

[ri-bel-yuhn]

noun

1. open, organized, and armed resistance to one's government or ruler.

   Synonyms: sedition, mutiny

2. resistance to or defiance of any authority, control, or tradition.

   Synonyms: disobedience, insubordination

3. the act of rebelling.

rebellion

/ rɪˈbɛljən /

noun

1. organized resistance or opposition to a government or other authority

2. dissent from an accepted moral code or convention of behaviour, dress, etc

Other Word Forms

• nonrebellion noun
• prerebellion adjective
• semirebellion noun
• subrebellion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of rebellion¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English rebellioun, from Old French, from Latin rebelliōn-, stem of rebelliō; equivalent to rebel + -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of rebellion¹

C14: via Old French from Latin rebelliō revolt (of those conquered); see _rebel

Example Sentences

As directed by Mr. Villazón, the chorus, which plays a major role in the opera, is not benign: Its goal is to subsume Amina and suppress rebellion.

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The first national railroad workers’ strike in 1877 was the beginning of industrial-era struggles between labor and capital, as Army and National Guard forces suppressed worker rebellions along rail lines.

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“I’ve always felt a little bit punk rock, and knowing where your food is coming from—that’s an act of rebellion.”

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But the government is facing a challenging autumn Budget, not least because a rebellion by Labour MPs derailed a plan to save billions on welfare spending earlier this year.

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Over the summer, the government walked back on its attempt to cut nearly £5bn off the disability and health-related benefits bill as it faced a rebellion of Labour MPs.

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Related Words

• dissent 
• insurgency 
• insurrection 
• revolution 
• uprising 

When To Use

What does rebellion mean?

A rebellion is an attempt to overthrow a government—an organized revolution.It can also refer to a revolt against another form of authority. More generally, rebellion can refer to an action or behavior that resists or defies rules or norms or otherwise challenges the status quo.The verb rebel means to engage in rebellion. As a noun, rebel can refer to a revolutionary or to a person who is defiant or disobedient. Such a defiant person can be called rebellious, and the noun rebelliousness refers to such behavior. Rebellion can also refer to this, as in I went through a phase of teenage rebellion.Example: The rebellion is being led by a coalition of factions that all have the same goal—to topple the regime.