Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Rebellion \Re*bel"lion\, n. [F. r['e]bellion, L. rebellio. See
   {Rebel}, v. t. Among the Romans rebellion was originally a
   revolt or open resistance to their government by nations that
   had been subdued in war. It was a renewed war.]
   1. The act of rebelling; open and avowed renunciation of the
      authority of the government to which one owes obedience,
      and resistances to its officers and laws, either by
      levying war, or by aiding others to do so; an organized
      uprising of subjects for the purpose of coercing or
      overthrowing their lawful ruler or government by force;
      revolt; insurrection.

            No sooner is the standard of rebellion displayed
            than men of desperate principles resort to it.
                                                  --Ames.

   2. Open resistances to, or defiance of, lawful authority.

   {Commission of rebellion} (Eng. Law), a process of contempt
      on the nonappearance of a defendant, -- now abolished.
      --Wharton. --Burrill.

   Syn: Insurrection; sedition; revolt; mutiny; resistance;
        contumacy. See {Insurrection}.

Source : WordNet®

rebellion
     n 1: refusal to accept some authority or code or convention;
          "each generation must have its own rebellion"; "his body
          was in rebellion against fatigue"
     2: organized opposition to authority; a conflict in which one
        faction tries to wrest control from another [syn: {insurrection},
         {revolt}, {rising}, {uprising}]