insurgent

[ in-sur-juhnt ]

noun

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.

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

/ ɪnˈsɜːdʒənt /

adjective

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

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

Derived Forms

• inˈsurgency, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of insurgent¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of insurgent¹

C18: from Latin insurgēns rising upon or against, from insurgere to rise up, from surgere to rise

Example Sentences

Doesn’t this describe a bartender turned “democratic socialist” organizer and party insurgent?

From Slate

Close enough that Jayden Maiava, the insurgent transfer from Nevada Las Vegas, believed at the time that he’d done enough to be named USC’s starting quarterback.

From Los Angeles Times

The ethnic insurgent alliance which has inflicted the greatest defeats on the Myanmar military operates along the border with China, and launched its offensive a year ago with the declared objective of shutting down scam centres of which thousands of Chinese citizens had become victims.

From BBC

“To everyone’s astonishment, the vulgar insurgent has won!”

From BBC

The media restrictions have also raised concerns about the safety of journalists in a country where media professionals are regularly targeted by officials and insurgent groups.

From BBC

Related Words

• demonstrator
• mutineer
• radical
• revolutionary
• rioter