A rebellion is a violent organized action by a large group of people who are trying to change their country's political system.
The British soon put down the rebellion.
...the ruthless and brutal suppression of rebellion.
Synonyms: resistance, rising, revolution, revolt More Synonyms of rebellion
2. variable noun
A situation in which politicians show their opposition to their own party's policies can be referred to as a rebellion.
The Prime Minister faced his first Commons rebellion since the election.
More Synonyms of rebellion
rebellion in British English
(rɪˈbɛljən)
noun
1.
organized resistance or opposition to a government or other authority
2.
dissent from an accepted moral code or convention of behaviour, dress, etc
Word origin
C14: via Old French from Latin rebelliō revolt (of those conquered); see rebel
rebellion in American English
(rɪˈbɛljən)
noun
1.
an act or state of armed resistance to one's government
2.
a defiance of or opposition to any kind of authority or control
Word origin
ME < MFr < L rebellio: see rebel
Examples of 'rebellion' in a sentence
rebellion
Students are at the heart of the rebellion within the party over the case.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He also had to cope with a rebellion within his party.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
We like a little bit of rebellion in this country.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
This is the most important student rebellion in this country in a generation.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Human rebellion didn't change his desire.
Christianity Today (2000)
Done properly, they are both about change and rebellion.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The crackdown and arrests by the government are getting worse and are going to prompt a rebellion against the government '.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The first of his many rebellions against his party came in 1975 when he refused to back its policy of public expenditure cuts and pay restraint.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The internet has unleashed a torrent of angry rebellion against the country 's media and academic Establishment.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Quotations
A little rebellion now and then is a good thingThomas Jeffersonletter to James Madison
Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to GodJohn Bradshaw
In other languages
rebellion
British English: rebellion NOUN
A rebellion is when a large group of people fight against the people who are in charge, for example the government.
The government soon put down the rebellion.
American English: rebellion
Brazilian Portuguese: rebelião
Chinese: 反抗
European Spanish: rebelión
French: rébellion
German: Rebellion
Italian: ribellione
Japanese: 反乱
Korean: 저항
European Portuguese: rebelião
Latin American Spanish: rebelión
All related terms of 'rebellion'
Rum Rebellion
the deposition of Governor William Bligh in 1808 by officers of the New South Wales Corps , caused by his interference in their trading activities, esp in the trafficking of rum
Boxer Rebellion
→ the Boxer Rebellion
Great Rebellion
→ the Great Rebellion
Sepoy Rebellion
the Indian Mutiny of 1857–58
Jacobite Rebellion
the unsuccessful Jacobite rising of 1715 led by James Francis Edward Stuart
Taiping Rebellion
a movement of religious mysticism and agrarian unrest in China between 1850 and 1864 which weakened the Manchu dynasty but was eventually suppressed with foreign aid
the Boxer Rebellion
an unsuccessful rebellion in 1900 led by a nationalistic Chinese secret society against foreign interests in China
the Great Rebellion
the conflict between Charles I and the Parliamentarians resulting from disputes over their respective prerogatives . Parliament gained decisive victories at Marston Moor in 1644 and Naseby in 1645, and Charles was executed in 1649
Chinese translation of 'rebellion'
rebellion
(rɪˈbɛljən)
n(c/u)
(= uprising) 叛乱(亂) (pànluàn)
(against society, parents) 反叛 (fǎnpàn)
(in politics) 反抗 (fǎnkàng)
1 (noun)
Definition
organized opposition to a government or other authority involving the use of violence
They soon put down the rebellion.
Synonyms
resistance
rising
revolution
after the French Revolution
revolt
a revolt by ordinary people against the leaders
uprising
a popular uprising against the authoritarian government
mutiny
A series of mutinies in the armed forces destabilized the regime.
insurrection
They were plotting to stage an armed insurrection.
insurgency
Both countries were threatened with insurgencies in the late 1960s.
insurgence
2 (noun)
Definition
rejection of accepted conventions of behaviour
He engaged in a small act of rebellion against his heritage.
Synonyms
nonconformity
dissent
He has responded harshly to any dissent.
defiance
his courageous defiance of the government
heresy
It might be considered heresy to suggest such a notion.
disobedience
Any further disobedience will be severely punished.
schism
insubordination
The two men were fired for insubordination.
apostasy
a charge of apostasy
Quotations
A little rebellion now and then is a good thing [Thomas Jefferson – letter to James Madison]Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God [John Bradshaw]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of apostasy
Definition
abandonment of one's religious faith, political party, or cause
a charge of apostasy
Synonyms
desertion,
defection,
treachery,
heresy,
disloyalty,
backsliding,
perfidy (literary),
unfaithfulness,
falseness,
faithlessness,
recreance or recreancy (archaic)
in the sense of defiance
Definition
open resistance to authority or opposition
his courageous defiance of the government
Synonyms
resistance,
challenge,
opposition,
confrontation,
contempt,
disregard,
provocation,
disobedience,
insolence,
insubordination,
rebelliousness,
recalcitrance,
contumacy (literary)
in the sense of disobedience
Any further disobedience will be severely punished.
Synonyms
defiance,
mutiny,
indiscipline,
revolt,
insubordination,
waywardness,
infraction,
recalcitrance,
noncompliance,
unruliness,
nonobservance
Synonyms of 'rebellion'
rebellion
Explore 'rebellion' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of dissent
Definition
a disagreement
He has responded harshly to any dissent.
Synonyms
disagreement,
opposition,
protest,
resistance,
refusal,
objection,
discord,
demur,
dissension,
dissidence,
nonconformity,
remonstrance
in the sense of heresy
Definition
any belief thought to be contrary to official or established theory
It might be considered heresy to suggest such a notion.
Synonyms
unorthodoxy,
apostasy,
dissidence,
impiety,
revisionism,
iconoclasm,
heterodoxy
in the sense of insubordination
The two men were fired for insubordination.
Synonyms
disobedience,
rebellion,
defiance,
revolt,
mutiny,
insurrection,
indiscipline,
sedition,
recalcitrance,
ungovernability,
riotousness,
mutinousness
in the sense of insurgency
Both countries were threatened with insurgencies in the late 1960s.
Synonyms
rebellion,
rising,
revolution,
resistance,
revolt,
uprising,
mutiny,
insurrection,
insurgence
in the sense of insurrection
Definition
the act of rebelling against an established authority
They were plotting to stage an armed insurrection.
Synonyms
rebellion,
rising,
revolution,
riot,
coup,
revolt,
uprising,
mutiny,
insurgency,
putsch,
sedition
in the sense of mutiny
Definition
open rebellion against authority, esp. by sailors or soldiers against their officers
A series of mutinies in the armed forces destabilized the regime.
Synonyms
rebellion,
revolt,
uprising,
insurrection,
rising,
strike,
revolution,
riot,
resistance,
disobedience,
insubordination,
refusal to obey orders
in the sense of revolt
Definition
to rise up in rebellion against authority
a revolt by ordinary people against the leaders
Synonyms
uprising,
rising,
revolution,
riot,
rebellion,
uprising,
mutiny,
defection,
insurrection,
subversion,
insurgency,
putsch,
sedition,
insurgence
in the sense of revolution
Definition
the overthrow of a regime or political system by the governed
after the French Revolution
Synonyms
revolt,
rising,
coup,
rebellion,
uprising,
mutiny,
insurgency,
coup d'état,
putsch
in the sense of uprising
Definition
a revolt or rebellion
a popular uprising against the authoritarian government