insurgency

noun

in·​sur·​gen·​cy in-ˈsər-jən(t)-sē 

plural insurgencies

1

: insurgence

2

: the quality or state of being insurgent

specifically : a condition of revolt against a government that is less than an organized revolution and that is not recognized as belligerency

Did you know?

Insurgencies fall into the category of "irregular warfare", since an insurgency normally lacks the organization of a revolution, even though it has the same aims. Revolutions often begin within a country's armed forces, whereas insurgencies often arise in remote areas, where they gain strength slowly by winning the confidence of rural populations. An insurgency may be based on ethnic or religious identity, or its roots may be basically political or economic. Since insurgencies are rarely strong enough to face a national army head-on, insurgents (often called guerrillas) tend to use such tactics as bombing, kidnapping, hostage taking, and hijacking.

Synonyms

• insurgence
• insurrection
• mutiny
• outbreak
• rebellion
• revolt
• revolution
• rising
• uprising

Examples of insurgency in a Sentence

there always seems to be insurgency of some type in that troubled country

Recent Examples on the Web

The insurgency, which began in the northern city of Aleppo, was carried out by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a Sunni Islamist coalition formed in 2017 from several opposition forces committed to toppling Assad and establishing an Islamic Emirate in Syria. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024

In Gaza, Israel must avoid either a vacuum, in which Hamas could reemerge, or an indefinite stay, which would guarantee an insurgency. —Stuart E. Eizenstat, The Atlantic, 2 Dec. 2024

Because of the Colombian government’s long history of fighting both leftist insurgencies and narcotrafficking cartels, Colombian law has strict rules to prevent the government from discussing political issues with criminal groups. —Elizabeth Dickinson, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2024

His decade-long presidency began with triumphs righting Peru’s economy and defeating a brutal insurgency only to end in autocratic excess that later sent him to prison. —Ryan Hogg, Fortune, 3 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1803, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

insurgency

noun

in·​sur·​gen·​cy in-ˈsər-jən-sē 

plural insurgencies

: rebellion sense 2

Legal Definition

insurgency

noun

in·​sur·​gen·​cy in-ˈsər-jən-sē 

plural insurgencies

: the quality or state of being insurgent

specifically : a condition of revolt against a recognized government that does not reach the proportions of an organized revolutionary government and is not recognized as belligerency