guerrilla

1 of 2

noun

guer·​ril·​la gə-ˈri-lə How to pronounce guerrilla (audio)
ge-, 
g(y)i-
variants or guerilla
Synonyms of guerrillanext
: a person who engages in irregular warfare especially as a member of an independent unit carrying out harassment and sabotage (see sabotage sense 2)
Guerrillas controlled half the country.

guerrilla

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or suggestive of guerrillas especially in being aggressive, radical, or unconventional
guerrilla warfare

Examples of guerrilla in a Sentence

Noun The guerrillas controlled half the country.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Essentially, the armed forces of Peru took control of the drug trade from the leftist guerrillas. — Michelle D. Paranzino, The Conversation, 11 June 2026 Cepeda had participated in and continued throughout the campaign to promote negotiations with guerrillas and cartels. — CBS News, 29 June 2026
Adjective
Her interviews were guerrilla achievements and global events. — Dwight Garner, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2017 That was the year that social media really started to take off, which gave restaurants and bars this megaphone to kind of guerrilla market on their own. — BostonGlobe.com, 11 Sep. 2019 See All Example Sentences for guerrilla

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

Spanish guerrilla, from diminutive of guerra war, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German werra strife — more at war

First Known Use

Noun

1809, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1811, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of guerrilla was in 1809

Phrases Containing guerrilla

Rhymes for guerrilla

See All Rhymes for guerrilla

Browse Nearby Words

Guerrero
guerrilla
guerrillaism
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Guerrilla.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/guerrilla. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

guerrilla

noun
guer·​ril·​la
variants or guerilla
gə-ˈril-ə
: a member of a band of persons engaged in warfare not as part of a regular army but as an independent unit making surprise raids behind enemy lines
guerrilla adjective
Etymology

Noun

from Spanish guerrilla, literally, "small war," from guerra "war"

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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