insurgent

American  

[in-sur-juhnt] / ɪnˈsɜr dʒənt /

noun

insurgents plural

1. a person who rises in forcible opposition to lawful authority, especially a person who engages in armed resistance to a government or to the execution of its laws; rebel.

2. a member of a section of a political party that revolts against the methods or policies of the party.

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adjective

1. of or characteristic of an insurgent or insurgents.

   Synonyms:

   mutinous, revolutionary, rebellious

2. surging or rushing in.

   The insurgent waves battered the shore.

insurgent British  

/ ɪnˈsɜːdʒənt /

adjective

1. rebellious or in revolt, as against a government in power or the civil authorities

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noun

1. a person who takes part in an uprising or rebellion; insurrectionist

2. international law a person or group that rises in revolt against an established government or authority but whose conduct does not amount to belligerency

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• insurgency
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• insurgents
  plural

Etymology

Origin of insurgent

1755–65; < Latin insurgent- (stem of insurgēns ) present participle of insurgere to get up, ascend, rebel. See in- ², surge, -ent

Explanation

An insurgent is a rebel or a revolutionary, someone who takes up arms against the authorities. Insurgent is from the Latin word “insurgentem,” literally meaning “to rise against,” so think of an insurgent as a fighter who rises against the people in power. Often insurgents are considered terrorists because they use violence to intimidate people.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

insurgent insurgents

It seemed a sure thing a few weeks ago that Abdul El-Sayed, the insurgent progressive challenger in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, was leading the race going away.

From Slate ● Jul. 18, 2026

But nationally we’re seeing that kind of insurgent recruitment, including with Platner.

From Salon ● Jul. 10, 2026

Spencer Pratt had a few things going for him when he launched an insurgent campaign to become Los Angeles’ next mayor.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 2026

On 20 October 2012, Roberts-Smith – by then a patrol commander – was sent into Syachow village to look for an insurgent dubbed "Objective Pine".

From BBC ● Apr. 17, 2026

“Sadly, the bridge is already under insurgent control due to questionable strategizing by my bereft cohort.”

From "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green

It includes podcasters, streamers, pundits, operatives and elected officials, many of whom began as scrappy insurgents and now command large audiences.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026

Twenty years ago, the grim and creatively valorous third season thrust the story’s human heroes into the role of insurgents.

From Salon ● May 5, 2026

Mali's army has been working with the Russian paramilitary group, the Africa Corps, which emerged from the Wagner Group, against the insurgents.

From BBC ● Apr. 30, 2026

"If the market is entirely run by insurgents, that is a different story," he told AFP.

From Barron's ● Apr. 13, 2026

A hands-off policy had backfired, the insurgents had gathered strength.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

Related Words

• demonstrator
• mutineer
• radical
• revolutionary
• rioter