rebellion

/rɪˈbɛljən/

Say it: ri-BEL-yun

1. noun An organized and often armed resistance against an established government or ruler.
The army was sent to crush the rebellion in the northern provinces.
2. noun The action or process of resisting authority, control, or convention.
Her choice of career was an act of rebellion against her family's expectations.
3. noun A feeling of strong disagreement with or opposition to something.
A sense of rebellion grew among the workers who felt their rights were being ignored.

📖 Seen in the wild

The rebellion was swiftly crushed by the government forces, but discontent lingered.
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✏️ rebellion in a sentence

The historical novel vividly depicted the events of the peasant rebellion.
Shays' Rebellion was a critical event that exposed the weaknesses of the young American government.
For many teenagers, dyeing their hair an unnatural color is a form of harmless rebellion.
The board of directors faced a shareholder rebellion over the CEO's excessive bonus.
His quiet refusal to participate was a small but significant act of rebellion.
The government's new tax sparked a widespread rebellion that quickly turned violent.
The story is about a lone artist's rebellion against the commercialism of the art world.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

uprising insurrection revolt revolution mutiny insubordination defiance resistance

uprising · suggests a more spontaneous or localized revolt than a full-scale rebellion.

insurrection · a more formal term, often with legal implications of rising against established civil authority.

revolt · often implies a passionate, widespread, and sometimes sudden outburst against oppression.

revolution · implies a successful rebellion that results in a fundamental change of government or society.

Opposites: submission, obedience, compliance, allegiance, loyalty

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'rebellion' comes from the Latin 'rebellare', meaning 'to wage war again'. It was formed from 're-', meaning 'again' or 'back', and 'bellum', meaning 'war'. The original sense was of a conquered people taking up arms anew against their conquerors, a meaning that has broadened over time to include any resistance to authority.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

armed rebellioncrush a rebellionan act of rebellionopen rebellionteenage rebellionspark a rebellion

While often used interchangeably in casual speech, 'rebellion', 'uprising', and 'revolution' have distinct shades of meaning. A rebellion is an organized challenge to authority that may fail. An uprising is often smaller-scale and more spontaneous. A revolution is a successful rebellion that fundamentally changes the power structure. Using 'rebellion' implies a serious, organized challenge, but leaves the outcome uncertain.

Word family: rebel, rebellious, rebelliously

💬 Quick answers

What does rebellion mean?

Rebellion refers to an organized resistance against a government or other authority. It can also describe a more general defiance of control or social norms.

What is the difference between a rebellion and a revolution?

A rebellion is an attempt to overthrow a power structure, which may or may not succeed. A revolution is a rebellion that succeeds and results in a fundamental change to the system of government or society.

Is a rebellion always violent?

Not necessarily. While the term often implies armed conflict, a rebellion can also be expressed through nonviolent means like mass protests, civil disobedience, or widespread refusal to cooperate with authority.

What is an example of a rebellion?

A famous historical example is the Boxer Rebellion in China (1899-1901), an armed uprising against foreign influence and imperialism.

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