insurgency
noun
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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.
Examples of insurgency in a Sentence
Younes Mohammad, USA Today, 15 Mar. 2026
Even the Iranian Kurds do not seem to be showing any great readiness to launch an insurgency.
—Dennis Ross, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
Hoffman is a renowned American political analyst specializing in terrorism and insurgency for nearly five decades.
—Mathew Miranda
updated March 12, Sacbee.com, 12 Mar. 2026
After launching an insurgency in 2009, Boko Haram has grown into different factions, including the Islamic State West Africa Province, which is backed by the Islamic State group.
—Arkansas Online, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for insurgency
Cite this Entry
“Insurgency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insurgency. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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insurgency
noun
