unrest

1 a state of agitation or turbulent change or development; "the political ferment produced a new leadership"; "social unrest" [syn: agitation, ferment, fermentation]

2 a feeling of restless agitation

English

Etymology

From un- + rest.

Pronunciation

Noun

1. A state of trouble, confusion and turbulence, especially in a political context; a time of riots, demonstrations and protests.

Derived terms

• civil unrest

Translations

• French: agitation

Unrest is a sociological phenomenon, for instance:

• Industrial unrest
• Labor unrest
• Rebellion
• Riot

Notable historical unrests

• 19th century Luddites
• 1978–79 Winter of Discontent (UK)
• 1989 Purple Rain Revolt, (South Africa)
• 2003 Maldives civil unrest
• 2004 Unrest in Kosovo
• 2005 Belize unrest
• May 2005 unrest in Uzbekistan

See also

• Civil disorder
• Riot
• Strike action
• State of emergency

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