insurrection
gb/ˌɪnsɚˈɛkʃən/ us/ˌɪnsɚˈɛkʃən/
C1
English
~ 26900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
C1
event
1
violent uprising against authority
A planned and usually violent action by a group of people who try to take power from the government or those in control.
Usage pattern:
an insurrection against [authority/government]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "insurrection" with "resurrection"; "insurrection" is about violent political uprising, while "resurrection" is about coming back to life. Another mistake is using "insurrection" for any protest; it should involve an attempt to overthrow or violently challenge authority, not just a demonstration or march.
Synonyms
uprising (More general and slightly less formal; can be violent or non‑violent, but often used similarly.)
|
rebellion (Very close in meaning; not always tied to overthrowing a government, can be broader resistance.)
|
revolt (Stresses the act of turning against authority; can sound a bit more spontaneous than 'insurrection'.)
|
insurgency (Often used for long‑term, organized armed resistance, especially in military or geopolitical contexts.)
Antonyms
loyalty (Describes continued support for the existing authority instead of rising against it.)
|
obedience (Focuses on following orders and rules rather than resisting or overthrowing authority.)
Collocations
armed insurrection
|violent insurrection
|insurrection against the government
|lead an insurrection
|spark an insurrection
|put down an insurrection
Themes
politics
|law
|conflict
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The government declared a state of emergency after the attempted insurrection at the capital.
- Several military officers were arrested for planning an insurrection against the ruling regime.
- The leaders of the insurrection were charged with sedition and treason.
- Historians still debate whether the event was a peaceful protest or a full‑scale insurrection.
Learner examples
- The army moved quickly to stop the insurrection.
- Several people went to jail for taking part in the insurrection.
- The news showed video of the insurrection at the city’s main square.
- The president spoke on TV after the failed insurrection.
Grammar
Dictionary form
insurrection
IPA
GB/ˌɪnsɚˈɛkʃən/
US/ˌɪnsɚˈɛkʃən/
Syllables & stress
in - sur - rec - tion (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (sur)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: insurrection
- Plural: insurrection, insurrections
Word family
Forms
insurrections
noun
Core family
insurrectionist
noun
insurrectionary
adjective
Related words
insurgent
noun B2
insurgency
noun C1
Advanced or less common
insurrect
verb
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.