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

Violence has intensified across several regions as criminal organizations and guerrilla groups have expanded their territorial influence over the past several years. — Armando Regil Velasco, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026

Kim Il-Sung The dynasty originated with Kim Il-Sung, a Korean guerrilla leader who fought against Japanese colonial rule during the 1930s and later served as an officer in the Soviet Red Army during World War II. — Ethan Teekah, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Aug. 2026

Adjective

She became known as a muse of desbunde, an anti-military but also anti-guerrilla nonconformist zeitgeist. — Phil Davison, Washington Post, 11 Nov. 2022

Experts say ex-guerrilla fighters, who once occupied the most remote parts of Colombia’s jungles, forests, mountains, and savannas, are uniquely prepared to aid scientists with ongoing conservation efforts. — Lindsey McGinnis, The Christian Science Monitor, 7 Aug. 2020

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

Rhymes for guerrilla

• axilla
• flotilla
• gorilla
• guerilla
• manilla
• mantilla
• maxilla
• mesilla
• papilla
• priscilla
• scintilla
• sensilla

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"