# rebellion

/ɹɪˈbɛɫjən/ (US) · /ɹɪbˈɛliən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rebellion
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. armed uprising

noun · CEFR B2

an organized, often violent attempt by a group of people to change their government or leader.

For teachers: an act of armed resistance or an organized uprising intended to overthrow an established government or ruler.

- The army quickly moved to stop the rebellion in the northern provinces.
- The historical records suggest the rebellion was fueled more by economic desperation than by a coherent political ideology.

Usage: often used with the preposition 'against'

### 2. defiance of authority

noun · CEFR B2

refusing to follow rules or do what people in power tell you to do.

For teachers: the action or process of defying authority, control, or social convention.

- Teenagers often show their rebellion by wearing clothes that their parents dislike.
- Her refusal to follow the corporate dress code was seen as a small act of rebellion against the company's rigid culture.

Usage: uncountable when referring to the general spirit of defiance

## Examples

- The soldiers started a rebellion against the king.
- The high school students staged a small rebellion by refusing to wear their uniforms for a week.
- Historians often debate whether the uprising was a spontaneous rebellion born of hunger or a calculated political move orchestrated by the exiled nobility.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.