Word
guerrilla
Phoneticsguer·ril·la, stress on the second syllable
US/ɡɝˈɪɫə/
UK/ɡɛɹˈɪlɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a soldier in a small, independent group that fights a larger, official army using surprise attacks.
n. a member of an irregular, usually indigenous, armed force that fights a stronger, conventional military through sabotage and harassment.
Examples
“The guerrilla fighters hid in the thick jungle to avoid detection.”
“The government struggled to defeat the guerrilla movement because the fighters were deeply embedded within the local villages.”
“Historians often distinguish between conventional warfare and guerrilla tactics, noting that the latter relies heavily on the psychological exhaustion of a superior force over time.”
Examples
simple
“The guerrilla fighters hid in the thick jungle to avoid detection.”
contextual
“The government struggled to defeat the guerrilla movement because the fighters were deeply embedded within the local villages.”
complex
“Historians often distinguish between conventional warfare and guerrilla tactics, noting that the latter relies heavily on the psychological exhaustion of a superior force over time.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “guerrilla” in context.
Verb
01. crush the guerrillas
“The government launched a massive offensive to crush the guerrillas hiding in the northern mountains.”
verb + noun
02. supply the guerrillas with weapons
“Foreign powers were accused of supplying the guerrillas with weapons and intelligence.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
Adjective
03. hardened guerrilla
“The peace talks were complicated by the demands of hardened guerrillas who had been fighting for decades.”
adj + noun
04. urban guerrilla
“The city faced a new threat from urban guerrillas operating out of abandoned warehouses.”
adj + noun
Noun
05. guerrilla leader
“The charismatic guerrilla leader was captured during a midnight raid on his jungle camp.”
noun + noun
06. guerrilla movement
“The guerrilla movement gained momentum as more villagers joined the cause.”
noun + noun
07. guerrilla warfare
“The rebels turned to guerrilla warfare after their conventional forces were defeated.”
noun + noun
Usage
Often used as a modifier before another noun, such as 'guerrilla warfare' or 'guerrilla marketing'.
Real-World Examples
“During the past several decades, it has been celebrated to ensure that they are not caught in the crossfire between the guerrillas and the military.” “Was it a mistake for 99 Colombian guerrillas to lay down their arms?” Etymology
Borrowed from Spanish guerrilla, diminutive of guerra (“war”), coined during the Peninsular War.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/guerrilla