intifada

noun

in·​ti·​fa·​da ˌin-tə-ˈfä-də 

plural intifadas

: uprising, rebellion

specifically : an armed uprising of Palestinians against Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip

I was a college student at Tufts University in December 1987, when the first Palestinian intifada began.

—Hady Amr

… in 2000, the second intifada struck with the force of an earthquake. As Palestinians fought Israeli troops, the West Bank became all but ungovernable.

—Karen E. Lange

Examples of intifada in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Yet again such Americanized or Americanizing individuals are accused of globalizing the intifada, if not jihad. —Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025

The previous intifada occurred from 1987 to 1990. —Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025

Continue reading … POLITICS 'RENOUNCE TERROR' – Relative of 9/11 firefighter appears to call out Mamdani for not condemning 'globalize the intifada' slogan. —FOXNews.com, 12 Sep. 2025

Censorship regimes Objecting to these and many other restrictions, Palestinians launched the first intifada, or uprising, against the Israeli occupation in December 1987. —Maha Nassar, The Conversation, 26 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Arabic intifāḍa, literally, the act of shaking off

First Known Use

1985, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for intifada

• arthropoda
• theravada
• armada
• entrada
• espada
• hamada
• jornada
• kannada
• posada
• quebrada
• ramada
• sagrada

Kids Definition

intifada

noun

in·​ti·​fa·​da ˌint-ə-ˈfäd-ə 

: uprising, rebellion

Etymology

Arabic intifāda, literally, "the act of shaking off"