insurrection

IPA/ˌɪnsəˈrekʃn/
KK[ˌɪnsɚˈɛkʃən]IPA/ˌɪnsəˈrekʃn/

insurrection — noun

  • insurrectionsingular
  • insurrectionsplural

1. a planned, often violent rising-up in which ordinary people fight to seize power

1.nounC1
Definition

a planned, often violent rising-up in which ordinary people fight to seize power from the rulers or government in charge of their country.

Example

Hungry farmers led a sudden insurrection against the king who had taxed them for years.

insurrection against [authority] for the people's grievance

Soldiers loyal to the palace crushed the insurrection before it spread to nearby cities.

collocation: crush an insurrection

Common collocations
  • armed insurrection
  • lead an insurrection
  • crush an insurrection
  • spark an insurrection
  • an insurrection against the government
Synonyms
  • rebellion

    near-synonym; slightly broader and more everyday than the formal 'insurrection'

  • uprising

    stresses the people rising from below; less bookish than 'insurrection'

  • revolt

    shorter, often sudden refusal to obey; may be smaller in scale

  • mutiny

    specifically by soldiers or sailors against their officers

Antonyms
  • obedience

    accepting and following the authority's rules

  • order

    a calm, controlled state with no fighting against the rulers

Grammar Patterns

an insurrection against [authority]

lead/crush an insurrection

Usage Note

Subject is usually a large group acting together against a state or ruler; rarely used for a single person's protest. Often paired with verbs of suppression (crush, put down, quell) or leadership (lead, spark).

Common Mistakes

She started an insurrection against her boss.
She started a protest against her boss.
insurrection is for rising up against a government or ruling power, not a workplace dispute.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All five words describe people fighting against those in power, but they differ in tone and scale. 'Insurrection' is the most formal and bookish, common in legal and news writing, and points to an organized, often armed move to seize control of a state. 'Rebellion' is broader and more everyday, covering anything from a national fight to a teenager refusing rules. 'Uprising' stresses ordinary people rising together from below, often suddenly. 'Revolt' is short and sharp, suggesting a quick refusal to obey. 'Mutiny' is narrow: it is used only for soldiers or sailors turning against their own officers. Compare: 'The colony's insurrection was crushed by troops,' but 'The sailors' mutiny left the ship without a captain.'

insurrection ↗rebellion ↗uprising ↗revolt ↗mutiny ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • armed insurrection
  • popular insurrection
  • leader of the insurrection

Phrases

  • lead an insurrection
  • crush an insurrection
  • spark an insurrection
  • put down an insurrection

Prepositions

  • insurrection against
  • insurrection in

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Insurrection comes from the Latin verb 'insurgere', meaning 'to rise up', built from 'in-' (against, upon) and 'surgere' (to rise). The same 'surgere' root gives us 'surge' and 'resurgent'. The word passed through Old French into English in the 1400s, keeping its core picture of people physically rising against those above them.