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Is insurgent a new word?
Insurgent is not a particularly novel coinage; it has been in use as both a noun and an adjective for well over 200 years. Appearances of the word began to spike in the early 21st century, however, due to a combination of factors (including the appearance of such combatants in conflicts and the desire among journalists to avoid words that might seem biased, such as terrorist or freedom fighter).
The definition of the noun, which includes the phrase “a rebel not recognized as a belligerent,” refers to a specific sense of belligerent: “belonging to or recognized as an organized military power protected by and subject to the laws of war.”
Examples of insurgent in a Sentence
Reuters,
NBC news,
4 July 2026
Syria has been without a parliament since the December 2024 offensive by insurgents led by al-Sharaa’s now defunct Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, which ended the Assad family’s five-decade dynasty.
—
Ghaith Alsayed,
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2026
The Editorial Board,
Daily News,
10 June 2026
Myanmar is worried about resistance to military rule, India is concerned with insurgent groups in its northeast.
—
Michael Sullivan,
NPR,
30 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for insurgent
Cite this Entry
“Insurgent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insurgent. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
insurgent
1 of 2 noun
insurgent
2 of 2 adjectiveLegal Definition
insurgent
1 of 2 noun
insurgent
2 of 2 adjective
