'counterinsurgent' originates from a Modern English compound of the prefix 'counter-' (from Latin 'contra') and 'insurgent' (from Latin 'insurgens', present participle of 'insurgere'), where 'counter-' meant 'against' and 'insurgere' meant 'to rise up'.

'insurgent' came into English via Latin 'insurgens' (from 'insurgere') and Old French forms; the prefix 'counter-' developed from Latin 'contra' through Old French 'contre' and was combined with 'insurgent' in Modern English to form the compound 'counterinsurgent'.

Initially, 'insurgent' denoted 'one who rises up'; over time the compound 'counterinsurgent' came to mean 'one who opposes or works against insurgents' and also describe actions or policies aimed at suppressing insurgency.