insurgent

An insurgent is a rebel or a revolutionary, someone who takes up arms against the authorities.

Insurgent is from the Latin word “insurgentem,” literally meaning “to rise against,” so think of an insurgent as a fighter who rises against the people in power. Often insurgents are considered terrorists because they use violence to intimidate people.

Definitions of insurgent
1

adj in opposition to a civil authority or government

Synonyms:
seditious, subversive
disloyal
deserting your allegiance or duty to leader or cause or principle

n a person who takes part in an armed rebellion against the constituted authority (especially in the hope of improving conditions)

Synonyms:
freedom fighter, insurrectionist, rebel
Examples:
Nat Turner
United States slave and insurrectionist who in 1831 led a rebellion of slaves in Virginia; he was captured and executed (1800-1831)
Denmark Vesey
United States freed slave and insurrectionist in South Carolina who was involved in planning an uprising of slaves and was hanged (1767-1822)
Sir William Wallace
Scottish insurgent who led the resistance to Edward I; in 1297 he gained control of Scotland briefly until Edward invaded Scotland again and defeated Wallace and subsequently executed him (1270-1305)
Types:
mutineer
someone who is openly rebellious and refuses to obey authorities (especially seamen or soldiers)
Young Turk
a member of one or more of the insurgent groups in Turkey in the late 19th century who rebelled against the absolutism of Ottoman rule
Type of:
crusader, meliorist, reformer, reformist, social reformer
a disputant who advocates reform
revolutionary, revolutionist, subversive, subverter
a radical supporter of political or social revolution

n a member of an irregular armed force that fights a stronger force by sabotage and harassment

Synonyms:
guerilla, guerrilla, irregular
Types:
Maquis, Maquisard
a guerrilla fighter in the French underground in World War II
urban guerrilla
a guerrilla who fights only in cities and towns
Type of:
warrior
someone engaged in or experienced in warfare

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