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
Molly Quell, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Nigeria, which is Africa’s most populous country, is battling a complex security crisis, especially in the north, where there is a decade-long insurgency.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
These dissident fighters – which include splinter groups who fight among themselves – have continued a low-level insurgency in some rural parts of Colombia.
—Annabella González, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
Former French colonies and once close Western partners, these countries have since distanced themselves from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and continue to face persistent jihadist insurgencies.
—Jewel Bright, NPR, 25 Apr. 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 1 May. 2026.
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insurgency
noun
