terrorism

American  

[ter-uh-riz-uhm] / ˈtɛr əˌrɪz əm /

noun

1. the unlawful use of violence or threats to intimidate or coerce a civilian population or government, with the goal of furthering political, social, or ideological objectives.

2. the state of fear and submission produced by terrorism.

3. a terrorist method of governing or of resisting a government.

4. intimidation or coercion by instilling fear.

   For many children, terrorism at school is a fact of life, even with antibullying policies in place.

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terrorism British  

/ ˈtɛrəˌrɪzəm /

noun

1. systematic use of violence and intimidation to achieve some goal

2. the act of terrorizing

3. the state of being terrorized

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terrorism Cultural  

1. Acts of violence committed by groups that view themselves as victimized by some notable historical wrong. Although these groups have no formal connection with governments, they usually have the financial and moral backing of sympathetic governments. Typically, they stage unexpected attacks on civilian targets, including embassies and airliners, with the aim of sowing fear and confusion. Israel has been a frequent target of terrorism, but the United States has increasingly become its main target. (See also September 11 attacks, Osama bin Laden, Hezbollah, and Basque region.)

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Usage

There is some consistency in the various definitions of terrorism adopted by U.S. government departments, agencies, and organizations, and by other Western democracies. It is generally agreed that terrorism, even against a very small segment of a civilian population, always involves a broader threat meant to instill fear in a larger community, thus requiring a response from the government. However, since September 11, 2001, the question of what actually constitutes a terrorist act has been the focus of emotionally and politically charged debates. Violent acts by white extremists have often been categorized as hate crimes, whereas similar acts by Muslims and Black people have been categorized as terrorism. The categorization often hinges on whether the perpetrators are tied to an organized group.

Other Word Forms

• antiterrorism
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of terrorism

First recorded in 1785–95; terror + -ism

Explanation

Terrorism is violence or the threat of violence directed against civilians for the purpose of creating intense fear, which the terrorist hopes to exploit to attain political or ideological goals. Terrorism can be perpetrated by individuals, groups, or governments. What distinguishes terrorism from assault or murder is that terrorism is intended to intimidate and create mayhem, to inspire terror. It's terrorism when a suicide bomber blows himself up in a crowded bus, in that the violence is directed not against soldiers on a battlefield but against civilians going about their everyday lives.

Example Sentences

Iraqi authorities dispatched two more units from the country’s Counter Terrorism Service, which played an important role in Iraq’s fight with Islamic State, to join a search of the area.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 9, 2026

Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Police London, said they were working alongside Met Police officers to provide "protective security advice and support to various organisations, community venues and businesses".

From BBC • May 7, 2026

The government already has powers to proscribe organisations under the Terrorism Act 2000.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

The hearing took place on the fourth day of the mass trial at the so-called Terrorism Confinement Center, southeast of San Salvador.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

Terrorism is different from war—where soldiers face one another in battle.

From "Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Changed the World" by Malala Yousafzai

Related Words

• assault
• attack
• bloodshed
• brutality
• clash
• confusion
• cruelty
• disorder
• disturbance
• fighting
• rampage
• struggle