insurgent
Americannoun
-
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.
-
a member of a section of a political party that revolts against the methods or policies of the party.
adjective
-
of or characteristic of an insurgent or insurgents.
- Synonyms:
- mutinous, revolutionary, rebellious
-
surging or rushing in.
The insurgent waves battered the shore.
adjective
noun
-
a person who takes part in an uprising or rebellion; insurrectionist
-
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
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.
Vocabulary lists containing insurgent
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When “SNL” made its debut in 1975, its insurgent approach to comedy was influenced by British acts of the time, especially Monty Python.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026
“I think Josh will forever be an insurgent filmmaker and I don’t think the world would be right otherwise.”
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 8, 2026
Myanmar rejected the report and has consistently said its operations targeted militant or insurgent threats.
From BBC • Jan. 12, 2026
The area is heavily policed by Thai security forces -- the usual targets of insurgent attacks.
From Barron's • Jan. 11, 2026
While Jack was on leave taking care of Sophie, Hoagland told me how Jack had been abducted in Cyprus by a red insurgent faction in sixty-four.
From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
