insurrection
in-suh-REK-shun
/ˌɪnsəˈrɛkʃən/
A violent uprising against an authority or government.
Insurrection is more organized than a riot but smaller or less successful than a full-scale revolution.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'insurrectionem', which comes from 'insurgere' (to rise up). It is the same root that gives us 'surge'—a sudden, powerful forward or upward movement.
Word relationships
- uprising: Uprising is a more general, often more sympathetic term; insurrection sounds more formal and legalistic.
- submission: Submission is the act of yielding to authority, the opposite of rising against it.
Commonly confused with
- revolution: An insurrection is the act of rising up; a revolution is an insurrection that successfully changes the system.
Word family
- insurgent (noun/adjective): A person rising in active revolt; relating to rebels.
Collocations
- armed insurrection
- incite an insurrection
- quell an insurrection
Example sentences
- "The government deployed the army to crush the armed insurrection in the northern provinces." Describing a historical rebellion.
Memory hook
Insurrection: The 'Insurgents' are 'Surging' against the 'Section' of government they hate. A surge of rebels.
When not to use
Do not use for peaceful protests; it implies the use of force or weapons.
Fun facts
- The Insurrection Act of 1807 is a US federal law that empowers the President to deploy troops within the US to suppress civil disorder.
Also appears in
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