guerrilla

1 of 2

noun

guer·​ril·​la gə-ˈri-lə 

ge-,

g(y)i-

variants or guerilla

: a person who engages in irregular warfare especially as a member of an independent unit carrying out harassment and sabotage (see sabotage sense 2)

Guerrillas controlled half the country.

guerrilla

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or suggestive of guerrillas especially in being aggressive, radical, or unconventional

guerrilla warfare

Examples of guerrilla in a Sentence

Noun

The guerrillas controlled half the country.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

That year Sandinista guerrillas entered the international scene by leading the armed overthrow of the Somoza dynasty. —TIME, 2 May 2024

While describing the theft of the weaponry as a grave issue, Petro also warned that part of the military supplies could have ended up in the hands of Colombian guerrillas and other local armed groups. —Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 1 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

Spanish guerrilla, from diminutive of guerra war, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German werra strife — more at war

First Known Use

Noun

1809, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1811, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing guerrilla

• anti-guerrilla
• guerrilla theater

Kids Definition

guerrilla

noun

guer·​ril·​la

variants or guerilla

gə-ˈril-ə

: a member of a band of persons engaged in warfare not as part of a regular army but as an independent unit making surprise raids behind enemy lines

guerrilla adjective

Etymology

Noun

from Spanish guerrilla, literally, "small war," from guerra "war"