terrorist

[ter-er-ist]

noun

1. a person, usually a member of a group, who uses or advocates terrorism.

2. a person who terrorizes or frightens others.

3. (formerly) a member of a political group in Russia aiming at the demoralization of the government by terror.

4. an agent or partisan of the revolutionary tribunal during the Reign of Terror in France.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of terrorism or terrorists.

   terrorist tactics.

terrorist

/ ˈtɛrərɪst /

noun

1. 1. a person who employs terror or terrorism, esp as a political weapon

   2. ( as modifier )

      terrorist tactics

Other Word Forms

• terroristic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of terrorist¹

First recorded in 1785–95; terror + -ist; compare French terroriste

Example Sentences

The Israeli military, meanwhile, said its troops had killed "several terrorists" who attempted to attack their position in Gaza City.

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Bilal Saadaoui was not planning to take part in the terrorist attacks but knew what his brother was up to and sympathised with the views of the Islamic State, said the prosecutor.

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Israel's defence minister has warned that those who stay during the offensive would be "terrorists and supporters of terror".

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The president recently signed an executive order designating the group, which is a loosely organised movement of far-left activists, as a domestic terrorist organisation.

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Supporters of "the former regime or terrorist organisations" were barred from membership, as were advocates of "secession, division or seeking foreign intervention".

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Related Words

• assassin 
• bomber 
• fanatic 
• guerrilla 
• gunman 
• hijacker 
• insurgent 
• radical 
• rebel 
• revolutionary 
• sniper 
• zealot