action taken by a government to counter the activities of rebels, guerrillas, etc
counterinsurgency in American English
(ˌkaʊntərɪnˈsɜrdʒənsi)
noun
military and political action carried on to defeat an insurgency
counterinsurgency in American English
(ˌkauntərɪnˈsɜːrdʒənsi)
Word forms: nounplural -cies
noun
1.
a program or an act of combating guerrilla warfare and subversion
adjective
2.
of, pertaining to, or designed for combating guerrilla warfare and subversion
counterinsurgency funds
Derived forms
counterinsurgent
noun or adjective
Word origin
[1960–65; counter- + insurgency]This word is first recorded in the period 1960–65. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Pap test, bicycle kick, buyback, pop art, zip codecounter- is a combining form with the meanings “against,” “contrary,” “opposite,” “in oppositionor response to” (countermand); “complementary,” “in reciprocation,” “corresponding,” “parallel” (counterfoil; counterbalance); “substitute,” “duplicate” (counterfeit)
Examples of 'counterinsurgency' in a sentence
counterinsurgency
Trust among the local population is the most precious commodity in any counterinsurgency.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But these statistics represent neither success nor failure in this complex counterinsurgency.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
There he consolidated his reputation as one of the pioneers of counterinsurgency warfare.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
A counterinsurgency requires an insurgency against a legitimate government, whose authority can be reasserted.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
That's the nature of this counterinsurgency operation ...
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Officers will learn counterinsurgency command and leadership skills.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Today they are lighter, faster and schooled in the complex art of counterinsurgency.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In fact, the general frequently finds himself apologising for the disastrous consequences of counterinsurgency.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Even proponents of counterinsurgency are hard-pressed to explain the plan.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
We hear much about counterinsurgency, for instance, but almost nothing about insurgency.