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
Noo Saro-Wiwa, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026
No group claimed responsibility, but suspicion quickly fell on Boko Haram, which in 2009 launched an insurgency in northeastern Nigeria to enforce Sharia law.
—Greg Norman-Diamond, FOXNews.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Yet in the early years of the insurgency there were talks to try and reach a settlement, until both sides accused each other of bad faith.
—Obi Anyadike, semafor.com, 23 Mar. 2026
No group claimed responsibility, but suspicion quickly fell on Boko Haram, which in 2009 launched an insurgency in northeastern Nigeria to enforce its radical interpretation of Sharia, or Islamic law.
—ABC News, 23 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 1 Apr. 2026.
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insurgency
noun
