noun

insurgent

/ɪnˈsɜːrdʒənt/ · say it: in·SUR·juhnt

a rebel; an outsider challenging those in power

In From the Front Page

In more detail

1. (noun) a person who rebels against their government or the authority in power

2. (adjective) relating to or characteristic of people who rebel against authority

Examples

1. The insurgents fought against the occupying forces for years.
2. Insurgent groups have been active in the region.

How to use insurgent

Insurgent typically describes those engaged in organized, often armed resistance against an established government or occupying power. It carries a more formal, somewhat neutral tone than rebel, though context determines whether the term is applied approvingly or critically. It is commonly used in military, political, and journalistic contexts to refer to active combatants rather than passive dissenters.

Common phrases

armed insurgent
insurgent groups
insurgent activity
anti-insurgent operations
insurgent forces

Synonyms

rebel · revolutionary · resister · fighter · dissident

Opposites

loyalist · supporter · collaborator

Word family

insurgency (noun) · insurgently (adverb)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse insurgent with insurrectionist; while related, an insurgent is part of an ongoing insurgency, whereas an insurrectionist may refer to someone involved in any rebellion or uprising, including one-off events.

Learn it for good

Save this word in WordVale and it comes back for review right before you'd forget it — with pronunciation, real examples, and optional translations. One purchase, no subscription.

Get WordValeFREE 7-DAY TRIAL · iPHONE & iPAD