jihadist

American  

[ji-hah-dist] / dʒɪˈhɑ dɪst /

noun

1. a jihadi.

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adjective

1. of or relating to jihad or jihadists.

   jihadist terrorism.

Other Word Forms

• jihadism noun

Etymology

Origin of jihadist

First recorded in 1910–15; jihad ( def. ) + -ist ( def. )

Example Sentences

As a Shiite-majority nation, Iran has long held fractious and even hostile relationships with Sunni jihadist actors.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

Last month, the United States began deploying troops to Nigeria to provide technical and training support to the country's soldiers in fighting jihadist groups.

From Barron's • Mar. 16, 2026

Niger is plagued by jihadist violence in the western Tillaberi region, a flashpoint zone where the country's borders meet those of its allies Burkina Faso and Mali.

From Barron's • Feb. 9, 2026

The US, like Europe, remains seriously concerned about the long-term security threat posed by the jihadist groups now operating across the Sahel - the semi-arid stretch of land south of the Sahara Desert.

From BBC • Feb. 1, 2026

Since then, Mali's military leaders have overseen the exit of the UN peacekeeping mission and French forces, which had deployed to Mali in 2013 to help deal with an escalating jihadist insurgency.

From BBC • Jan. 30, 2026