insurgency

noun

in·sur·gen·cy | \ in-ˈsər-jən(t)-sē

plural insurgencies

Definition of insurgency

1 : the quality or state of being insurgent specifically : a condition of revolt against a government that is less than an organized revolution and that is not recognized as belligerency

2 : insurgence

Synonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about insurgency

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Did You Know?

Insurgencies fall into the category of "irregular warfare", since an insurgency normally lacks the organization of a revolution, even though it has the same aims. Revolutions often begin within a country's armed forces, whereas insurgencies often arise in remote areas, where they gain strength slowly by winning the confidence of rural populations. An insurgency may be based on ethnic or religious identity, or its roots may be basically political or economic. Since insurgencies are rarely strong enough to face a national army head-on, insurgents (often called guerrillas) tend to use such tactics as bombing, kidnapping, hostage taking, and hijacking.

Examples of insurgency in a Sentence

there always seems to be insurgency of some type in that troubled country

Recent Examples on the Web

Taliban sources told NBC News that their negotiating team on Monday conferred via Skype with its leadership in Afghanistan and Pakistan, including the insurgency’s leader Akhunzada, before meeting again with the U.S. delegation later on Monday. — NBC News, "Proposed U.S. deal with Taliban uses name of insurgency's former 'emirate'," 28 Aug. 2019 The move could drive more support to the protest movement, harden opposition against the Hong Kong administration and potentially trigger a pro-independence insurgency, the polar opposite of what Beijing wants to see. — Los Angeles Times, "What if China sends paramilitary forces to crush the Hong Kong protests?," 16 Aug. 2019 The Indian government has described its rollback of Kashmir’s autonomy as an effort to promote development and quell a separatist insurgency in the region, where Pakistan and India have long vied for control. — Washington Post, "Kashmir’s new status could bring demographic change, drawing comparisons to the West Bank," 8 Aug. 2019 The insurgency has also cost the government billions of dollars in military spending and has stretched the country’s security forces to their limits. — Yomi Kazeem, Quartz Africa, "The ominous parallels with Nigeria’s handling of a rising Islamic sect and early-day Boko Haram," 29 July 2019 Nearly two decades later, the Taliban insurgency remains resilient, according to a 2019 Council on Foreign Relations report. — Elvia Malagón, chicagotribune.com, "Hundreds of Illinois National Guard members set to deploy this weekend for Afghanistan — the largest call-up in a decade," 26 July 2019 The text wraps around a graphic image of an AK-47, the weapon of choice for Khalistani militants during the insurgency. — Ali Kazimi, Quartz India, "A Canadian artist is keeping the embers of Sikh separatism alive with false equivalences," 27 June 2019 The brutal insurgency of the RUF (Revolutionary United Front), the rebel force backed by Liberia, was financed by the diamond fields in Kona and Kenema in Sierra Leone’s Eastern Province. — Janine Di Giovanni, The New York Review of Books, "Sierra Leone, 2000: A Case History in Successful Interventionism," 7 June 2019 The situation in Kashmir remains tense as the security lockdown continues and fears of insurgency grow. — Kamakshi Ayyar, Time, "'We Have Taken an Historic Decision.' Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Addresses Nation On Kashmir Move," 8 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'insurgency.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for insurgency

insurgency

noun

English Language Learners Definition of insurgency

: a usually violent attempt to take control of a government : a rebellion or uprising

See the full definition for insurgency in the English Language Learners Dictionary

insurgency

noun

in·sur·gen·cy | \ in-ˈsər-jən-sē

plural insurgencies

Legal Definition of insurgency

: the quality or state of being insurgent specifically : a condition of revolt against a recognized government that does not reach the proportions of an organized revolutionary government and is not recognized as belligerency

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insurgency

Definition of insurgency

Synonyms for insurgency

Did You Know?

Examples of insurgency in a Sentence

First Known Use of insurgency

English Language Learners Definition of insurgency

Legal Definition of insurgency

insurgency

Definition of insurgency

Synonyms for insurgency

Did You Know?

Examples of insurgency in a Sentence

First Known Use of insurgency

English Language Learners Definition of insurgency

Legal Definition of insurgency

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