Skip to the word

Added 9 October 2026

insurgent

/ɪnˈsəːdʒ(ə)nt/ noun

In Latin: rebellis Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about insurgent at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A person who takes part in an armed rebellion against the constituted authority (especially in the hope of improving conditions).
A member of an irregular armed force that fights a stronger force by sabotage and harassment.

adjective

In opposition to a civil authority or government.

Origin

From Latin īnsurgentem, accusative singular of īnsurgēns, present active participle of īnsurgō (“to rise up against, revolt”), from in (“against”) + surgō (“to rise”), itself from sub (“up from below”) + regō (“to guide, direct, rule, govern, administer”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- (“to move in a straight line, to rule, guide, lead straight, put right”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word