English Reference
Noun

mutiny

n. C / U
C1 Advanced US /ˈmjutəni/ UK /mjˈuːtɪni/ mutiny UK spelling mutinied, mutinies, mutiny's

n.an occasion when a group of people, like soldiers or sailors, refuse to obey their leader. It usually involves trying to take control of the ship or organization.

n.an open rebellion against constituted authority, especially by soldiers or sailors against their officers.


SIMPLE

The sailors planned a mutiny against their cruel captain.

CONTEXTUAL

The crew's growing anger over the lack of food eventually led to a full-scale mutiny in the middle of the ocean.

COMPLEX

Historical accounts of the mutiny suggest that the uprising was not merely a reaction to harsh discipline, but a calculated attempt to seize the vessel for piracy.

Usage

Often functions as an uncountable concept in general discussion, but becomes countable when referring to specific historical incidents.

The mutiny last week began at Base 101, a military facility inside Niamey’s international airport, when soldiers turned on their commanders and opened fire at several sites in the city.

Al Jazeera· 5 Sept 2026

From Middle French mutiner.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin frm mutiner
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated