insurgent

1 of 2

noun

in·​sur·​gent in-ˈsər-jənt 

1

: a person who revolts against civil authority or an established government

especially : a rebel not recognized as a belligerent

2

: one who acts contrary to the policies and decisions of one's own political party

insurgent

2 of 2

adjective

: rising in opposition to civil authority or established leadership : rebellious

insurgently adverb

Did you know?

Is insurgent a new word?

Insurgent is not a particularly novel coinage; it has been in use as both a noun and an adjective for well over 200 years. Appearances of the word began to spike in the early 21st century, however, due to a combination of factors (including the appearance of such combatants in conflicts and the desire among journalists to avoid words that might seem biased, such as terrorist or freedom fighter).

The definition of the noun, which includes the phrase “a rebel not recognized as a belligerent,” refers to a specific sense of belligerent: “belonging to or recognized as an organized military power protected by and subject to the laws of war.”

Synonyms

Noun

• insurrectionary
• insurrectionist
• mutineer
• rebel
• red
• revolter
• revolutionary
• revolutionist

Adjective

• insurrectionary
• mutinous
• rebellious
• revolutionary

Examples of insurgent in a Sentence

Noun

Insurgents are trying to gain control of the country's transportation system.

the government subjected the insurgents to the most inhuman torture imaginable

Adjective

any insurgent soldiers will be dealt with harshly

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

As threats from insurgents faded, crackdowns by an authoritarian government surged. —Mitra Taj, New York Times, 17 May 2025

As a result, the new international legal architecture curbed starvation tactics in interstate wars and during occupations but stopped short of fully criminalizing the weapon, particularly when used by poorer states against insurgent groups in civil wars. —Boyd Van Dijk, Foreign Affairs, 30 Apr. 2025

Adjective

In the fight over the future of the Democratic Party, Mr. Pritzker has emerged as a leader of an insurgent faction calling for a full-throated, unflinching barrage of attacks on Mr. Trump, his Republican allies and their right-wing agenda. —Lisa Lerer, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025

The photograph depicts a foot soldier in an insurgent religious movement trying to storm the halls of American power. —John Blake, CNN, 12 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Latin insurgent-, insurgens, present participle of insurgere to rise up, from in- + surgere to rise — more at surge

First Known Use

Noun

1765, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1807, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for insurgent

• convergent
• detergent
• divergent
• emergent
• resurgent
• serjeant
• urgent

Kids Definition

insurgent

1 of 2 noun

in·​sur·​gent in-ˈsər-jənt 

: a person who revolts : rebel

insurgent

2 of 2 adjective

: rebellious sense 1

Legal Definition

insurgent

1 of 2 noun

in·​sur·​gent in-ˈsər-jənt 

1

: a person who rises in revolt against civil authority or an established government

especially : one not recognized as a belligerent

2

: one that acts contrary to the established leadership (as of a political party, union, or corporation) or its decisions and policies

insurgent

2 of 2 adjective

: rising in opposition to civil or political authority or against an established government