'pre-insurrectionary' originates from Latin-derived elements: the prefix 'pre-' (from Latin 'prae') meaning 'before', combined with 'insurrectionary' (from 'insurrection', ultimately from Latin 'insurgere') where 'insurgere' meant 'to rise up', and the adjectival suffix '-ary' (from Latin '-arius') indicating 'pertaining to'.

'insurrection' comes from Latin 'insurrectio' (from 'insurgere'), passed into Old French and Middle English as 'insurrection', which formed the adjective 'insurrectionary' in Modern English; the productive prefix 'pre-' was later attached in Modern English to form 'pre-insurrectionary'.

Initially the components literally conveyed 'before a rising up'; over time the compound has come to be used specifically for events, signs, or conditions that immediately precede or indicate an impending insurrection.