insurrection

noun

in·​sur·​rec·​tion ˌin(t)-sə-ˈrek-shən How to pronounce insurrection (audio)
: an act or instance of revolting against civil authority or an established government
insurrectional adjective
insurrectionary adjective or noun
insurrectionist noun
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 Murray said requiring a statute would be counter-intuitive to blocking an insurrectionist from taking office and that Trump had engaged in insurrection. Gillian Brassil, Sacramento Bee, 4 Mar. 2024 In February, an Illinois circuit judge joined the chorus, ruling that Trump should not be eligible to hold federal office after digging into evidence of an insurrection. Virginia Chamlee, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024 Amendment's ban on people who have engaged in insurrection holding office. Zachary Folk, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 The state's highest court ruled in December that Trump's conduct surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection disqualified him from holding public office under an obscure provision of the Constitution and ordered him to be kept off the GOP primary ballot. Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2024 Justice Elena Kagan said the major platforms had good reasons to reject posts inciting insurrection, endangering public health and spreading hate speech. Compiled Bydemocrat-Gazette Stafffrom Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 27 Feb. 2024 The only justice to directly press the insurrection question was liberal Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 9 Feb. 2024 Colorado District Court Judge Sarah B. Wallace found that Trump had committed insurrection, but the provision in the 14th Amendment that would disqualify a candidate did not apply to presidents. James Powel, USA TODAY, 9 Feb. 2024 Second-year student Django Bonderman and third-year student Jenn Chalifoux-Gene were both surprised on Thursday that the justices hardly touched on the question of whether Trump engaged in insurrection. Joanna Slater, Washington Post, 9 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'insurrection.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of insurrection was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near insurrection

Cite this Entry

“Insurrection.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insurrection. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

insurrection

noun
in·​sur·​rec·​tion ˌin(t)-sə-ˈrek-shən How to pronounce insurrection (audio)
insurrectionary adjective or noun
insurrectionist noun

Legal Definition

insurrection

noun
in·​sur·​rec·​tion ˌin-sə-ˈrek-shən How to pronounce insurrection (audio)
: 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

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