Word
insurrection
Phoneticsin·sur·rec·tion, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌɪnsɝˈɛkʃən/
UK/ɪnsəɹˈɛkʃən/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. a violent action by a large group of people who try to take control of their government. It is usually an organized fight against those in power.
n. an organized, violent uprising or rebellion against an established government or civil authority.
Examples
“The military quickly ended the insurrection in the capital.”
“Historians often debate whether the 19th-century event was a minor riot or a full-scale insurrection against colonial rule.”
“The government responded to the growing insurrection by declaring a state of emergency and suspending several civil liberties to restore order in the provinces.”
Examples
simple
“The military quickly ended the insurrection in the capital.”
contextual
“Historians often debate whether the 19th-century event was a minor riot or a full-scale insurrection against colonial rule.”
complex
“The government responded to the growing insurrection by declaring a state of emergency and suspending several civil liberties to restore order in the provinces.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the general act of rebellion; countable when referring to a specific historical event.
Real-World Examples
“The government said the raid targeted “militia activity,” with those arrested allegedly caught in possession of military grade weapons meant for an armed insurrection.” “The leading opposition candidate calls allegations of a planned insurrection "total fabrications".” Etymology
From Late Middle English insurreccion (“uprising against a government, rebellion, revolt; civil disorder, riot; illegal armed assault”) [and other forms], from Middle French insurrection, Old French insurreccïon (modern French insurrection), and from their etymon Latin īnsurrēctiōnem (rare), the accusative singular of īnsurrēctiō (“rising up, insurrection, rebellion”), from īnsurgō (“to rise up”), from in- (prefix meaning ‘in, inside, within’) + surgō (“to arise, get up; to rise”) (from sub- (prefix meaning ‘(from) beneath, under’) + regō (“to direct, govern, rule; to guide, steer; to manage, oversee”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- (“to right oneself, straighten; just; right”))).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/insurrection