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 of insurgency

• insurrection
• revolt
• uprising
• rebellion
• mutiny

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 West African nation has been fighting an insurgency for more than a decade, with Boko Haram and its splinter group, the Islamic State of West Africa Province, in addition to several amorphous groups commonly referred to as bandits. —Pelumi Salako, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026

Nigeria is in the grip of a complex security crisis, with an insurgency by Islamic militants in the northeast alongside a surge in kidnappings for ransom by gunmen across the northwest and north-central regions over recent months. —Arkansas Online, 5 Feb. 2026

For decades, the BLA has waged a separatist insurgency that seeks greater political autonomy and economic development in the strategically important and mineral-rich Balochistan region, where the Reko Diq mine and other copper and mineral reserves are located. —Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 3 Feb. 2026

The latest total is the highest number of militants killed in such a short span since the insurgency intensified, Bugti said, without providing comparative figures. —Reuters, NBC news, 1 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1803, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for insurgency

• emergency
• counterinsurgency
• nonemergency
• urgency

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