insurrection

noun

in·​sur·​rec·​tion ˌin(t)-sə-ˈrek-shən 

: an act or instance of revolting against civil authority or an established government

insurrectional

ˌin(t)-sə-ˈrek-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

insurrectionary

ˌin(t)-sə-ˈrek-shə-ˌner-ē 

adjective or noun

insurrectionist

ˌin(t)-sə-ˈrek-sh(ə-)nist 

noun

Synonyms

• insurgence
• insurgency
• mutiny
• outbreak
• rebellion
• revolt
• revolution
• rising
• uprising

Choose the Right Synonym for insurrection

rebellion, revolution, uprising, revolt, insurrection, mutiny mean an outbreak against authority.

rebellion implies an open formidable resistance that is often unsuccessful.

open rebellion against the officers

revolution applies to a successful rebellion resulting in a major change (as in government).

a political revolution that toppled the monarchy

uprising implies a brief, limited, and often immediately ineffective rebellion.

quickly put down the uprising

revolt and insurrection imply an armed uprising that quickly fails or succeeds.

a revolt by the Young Turks that surprised party leaders

an insurrection of oppressed laborers

mutiny applies to group insubordination or insurrection especially against naval authority.

a mutiny led by the ship's cook

Examples of insurrection in a Sentence

the famous insurrection of the slaves in ancient Rome under Spartacus

Recent Examples on the Web

With the memory of the violent January 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol still fresh, many voters fear that the peaceful transfer of power will again be under attack. —Jenna Bednar, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2024

Even the insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to halt the certification of the 2020 vote, didn’t stop most in the party from embracing him again. —David Jackson, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024

Key Background Some elections and social media experts fear the election denial movement, which culminated in various legal challenges to the results of the 2020 election and the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol, is more organized ahead of this year’s election. —Conor Murray, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

Efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election culminated, of course, with the January 6, 2021, pro-Trump insurrection at the Capitol. —WIRED, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English insureccion, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin insurrection-, insurrectio, from insurgere

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

insurrection

noun

in·​sur·​rec·​tion ˌin(t)-sə-ˈrek-shən 

: rebellion sense 2

insurrectionary

-shə-ˌner-ē 

adjective or noun

insurrectionist

-sh(ə-)nəst 

noun

Legal Definition

insurrection

noun

in·​sur·​rec·​tion ˌin-sə-ˈrek-shən 

: the act or an instance of revolting especially violently against civil or political authority or against an established government

also : the crime of inciting or engaging in such revolt

whoever incites, sets on foot, assists, or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States…shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years

—U.S. Code