insurgency

UK: ɪnˈsɜːdʒənsi | US: ɪnˈsɜːrdʒənsi

Definition
  1. n. an organized effort by a group of people to overthrow a government or authority, typically through violent means

  2. n. the state or condition of being in active revolt or rebellion

Structure
in <against>surg <rise>ency <noun suffix>
Etymology

insurgency = in<against> + surg<rise> + ency<noun suffix>

  • in: Latin prefix meaning "against" or "into."
  • surg: Derived from Latin surgere ("to rise"), related to surge (a sudden upward movement).
  • ency: Noun-forming suffix indicating a state or condition (e.g., urgency, efficiency).

Etymology Origin:
The word insurgency traces back to Latin insurgere ("to rise up"), combining in- (against) and surgere (to rise). It originally described physical uprising but evolved to denote organized rebellion against authority, reflecting the "rising against" logic. The suffix -ency formalizes it as a noun, emphasizing the state of revolt.

Examples
  1. The government deployed troops to quell the growing insurgency in the northern region.

  2. Historical records show the insurgency lasted for over a decade before collapsing.

  3. Foreign intervention often exacerbates local insurgencies.

  4. The leader’s speech fueled the insurgency’s momentum.

  5. Counterterrorism strategies aim to dismantle insurgencies at their roots.