Intifada is an Arabic word that literally means “shaking off” or “uprising.”
Basic meaning
In Arabic, intifada means “uprising” or “shaking off,” conveying the idea of casting off oppression or unwanted control. It is often used for popular protest movements that are below the level of a full revolution but go beyond ordinary demonstrations.
Political usage
In modern politics, the word most commonly refers to Palestinian uprisings against Israeli occupation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In English, many people now associate “intifada” specifically with the First Intifada (1987–1993) and the Second Intifada (starting in 2000), which included both nonviolent and violent forms of resistance.