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
Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 28 Oct. 2025
Most of Pakistan’s rare earths are thought to be in Balochistan province, which has been rocked for years by a separatist insurgency that seeks greater political autonomy and economic development in the strategically important and mineral-rich region.
—Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
Far from being a success, the fall of Baghdad marked the beginning of an insurgency that stretched on for years.
—Tom Bowman, NPR, 14 Oct. 2025
In the north, the Boko Haram insurgency spills over from neighboring Nigeria, with armed groups routinely attacking border towns.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for insurgency
Cite this Entry
“Insurgency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insurgency. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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insurgency
noun
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