domestic terrorism

[ duh-mes-tik ter-uh-riz-uhm ]

noun

1. the unlawful use of violence or threats against a country’s civilian population or government by an individual or group based and operating within the same country and without foreign direction, with the goal of furthering political, social, or ideological objectives.

Usage Note

See terrorism.

Other Words From

• do·mes·tic ter·ror·ist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of domestic terrorism¹

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

The FBI had identified the movement as a domestic terrorism threat as early as May 2019.

From TIme

All of this should be obvious in the context of QAnon, which the FBI has deemed a domestic terrorism threat.

From Washington Post

Leaving aside the fact that Americans confront domestic terrorism with much greater frequency than terrorism from abroad, these plans are part of a long history of reluctance to walk back a global imperial presence.

From Time

The problem of domestic terrorism has been metastasizing across the country for a long time now and it’s not going away anytime soon.

From Washington Post

The unit will also collaborate with the office’s national security team to ensure that civil rights statutes are adequately applied when acts of domestic terrorism are racially motivated or include hate crimes.

From Washington Post