insurgency
gb/ɪnsˈɚd͡ʒənsi/ us/ɪnsˈɚd͡ʒənsi/
C1
English
~ 8700
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
C1
event
1
organized armed rebellion against authority
A long, organized fight with weapons by a group of people who want to remove a government or other authority.
Usage pattern:
an insurgency against [a government/authority]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "insurgency" for any kind of protest or disagreement. In standard use, "insurgency" almost always involves organized groups using weapons or violence against a government or authority over time. For simple protests without weapons, words like "protest" or "demonstration" are more appropriate.
Synonyms
insurrection (Often slightly more formal or legal; focuses strongly on the act of rising up against authority, sometimes without emphasizing the long, ongoing conflict.)
Antonyms
loyalty (Describes support and obedience to a government or authority instead of rebellion against it.)
Collocations
armed insurgency
|launch an insurgency
|crush the insurgency
|insurgency against the government
|growing insurgency
Themes
politics
|military
|conflict
|law
Examples
- The government deployed extra troops to regions affected by the insurgency.
- Talks between rebel leaders and the army failed to end the insurgency.
- The country has struggled with a violent insurgency for more than a decade.
- Foreign powers were accused of secretly funding the insurgency.
Learner examples
- The army is fighting an insurgency in the north of the country.
- Peace talks aim to stop the insurgency.
- Many people left the area because of the insurgency.
- The government wants to end the insurgency without more bloodshed.
Noun
formal
C2
event
2
strong organized challenge to a system
A strong, organized effort by a group to change or remove people in power or an old system, sometimes used in business or politics without real fighting.
Usage pattern:
an insurgency within [a party/organization/system]
Common mistake:
Learners may overextend this figurative meaning and use "insurgency" for any small change or new idea. In figurative use, it still suggests a strong, organized challenge to people or systems in power, not just normal competition or simple disagreement.
Synonyms
rebellion (Can be physical or purely political; often slightly broader and more general, not always suggesting armed conflict in this figurative use.)
Antonyms
establishment (Refers to the existing powers and institutions that an insurgency tries to challenge or replace.)
Collocations
political insurgency
|grassroots insurgency
|party insurgency
|digital insurgency
Themes
politics
|business
|society
Examples
- A populist insurgency inside the party is challenging its long-time leaders.
- Startups are leading an insurgency against traditional banks by offering mobile-only services.
- Some analysts describe the movement as an insurgency against global economic elites.
- The chairman resigned after an internal insurgency from younger members of the board.
Learner examples
- A new group started an insurgency inside the political party.
- Small online shops are leading an insurgency against big stores.
- Young members began an insurgency against the old leaders.
- The digital insurgency is changing how people buy products.
Grammar
Dictionary form
insurgency
IPA
GB/ɪnsˈɚd͡ʒənsi/
US/ɪnsˈɚd͡ʒənsi/
Syllables & stress
in - sur - gency (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (sur)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: insurgency
- Plural: insurgencies, insurgency
Word family
Expressions
counter-insurgency
1/kˈaʊntɚ ɪnsˈɚd͡ʒənsi/
fixed phrase
technical
actions to defeat an insurgency
Military and political actions that try to stop or control an insurgency and win support from the local people.
Examples
- The army launched a new counter-insurgency campaign in the troubled region.
- Modern counter-insurgency strategies focus on protecting civilians and building trust with local communities.