Did you know?
Is insurgent a new word?
Insurgent is not a particularly novel coinage; it has been in use as both a noun and an adjective for well over 200 years. Appearances of the word began to spike in the early 21st century, however, due to a combination of factors (including the appearance of such combatants in conflicts and the desire among journalists to avoid words that might seem biased, such as terrorist or freedom fighter).
The definition of the noun, which includes the phrase “a rebel not recognized as a belligerent,” refers to a specific sense of belligerent: “belonging to or recognized as an organized military power protected by and subject to the laws of war.”
Synonyms
Examples of insurgent in a Sentence
Ron Elving, NPR, 27 Apr. 2024
The group, which began as an insurgent organization for young Republicans and has become a powerful player in right-wing politics, is aiming to raise and spend more than $108 million on a Chase the Vote program with hundreds of staff members in Arizona and Wisconsin.
—Nick Corasaniti Caitlin O’Hara, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for insurgent 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'insurgent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to insurgent
Dictionary Entries Near insurgent
Cite this Entry
“Insurgent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insurgent. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
insurgent
1 of 2 noun
insurgent
2 of 2 adjectiveLegal Definition
insurgent
1 of 2 noun
insurgent
2 of 2 adjective
Share