terrorist

American  

[ter-er-ist] / ˈtɛr ər ɪst /

noun

• terrorists
  plural

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.

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adjective

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

   terrorist tactics.

terrorist British  

/ ˈtɛrərɪst /

noun

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

   2. ( as modifier )

      terrorist tactics

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• terroristic
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• terrorists
  plural

Etymology

Origin of terrorist

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

Explanation

Someone who uses violence, mayhem, and destruction — or the threat of those things — to coerce people or countries into taking a certain action is a terrorist. A terrorist may be motivated by religious fervor, politics, or just plain old-fashioned greed. Terrorist has at its root the word "terror," which comes from the Latin word terrorem, meaning great fear. Great fear is exactly what terrorists hope to create so they can manipulate the situation to their benefit. The label terrorist is a subjective one. To the British, the American colonists who destroyed shiploads of tea in Boston Harbor in 1773 were terrorists. To colonists, they were patriots and heroes.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

terrorist terrorists

Powell also said the US and Europe should maintain contact with President Putin – despite describing the Russian leader as a "terrorist".

From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026

This issue is deeply related to the newly released trove of documents that indicate that New Yorkers were “misled” — essentially lied to — about air quality risks following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

From Salon ● Sep. 12, 2026

One national-security expert warned that a terrorist nuclear attack on a major city was “inevitable.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

“How do we get from the Columbian Exchange to Al Qaeda? What would motivate people to create a terrorist group? Why would America be a target?” he asked his class.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

Angie had put his name on the terrorist watch list, he said.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover

Most of the blame for that lies at the feet of the 9/11 terrorists and those who supported and financed them.

From Slate ● Sep. 11, 2026

A British-born veteran of Vietnam, he concluded after the 1993 bombing that the terrorists would return, and he rigorously rehearsed evacuation plans.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

Soon he’ll tell us he carried dozens of people on his own back while personally defeating the terrorists.

From Salon ● Sep. 11, 2026

Warwick Crown Court heard Webster had been referred four times to the UK Government-led Prevent programme, a scheme aimed to stop people becoming terrorists.

From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026

The terrorists thought that they would change our aims and stop our. ambitions, but nothing changed in my life except this: Weakness, fear, and hopelessness died.

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

Related Words

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