# insurrection

/ˌɪnsɝˈɛkʃən/ (US) · /ɪnsəɹˈɛkʃən/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/insurrection
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

- Uncountable when referring to the general act of rebellion; countable when referring to a specific historical event.

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