terrorist
Americannoun
-
a person, usually a member of a group, who uses or advocates terrorism.
-
a person who terrorizes or frightens others.
-
(formerly) a member of a political group in Russia aiming at the demoralization of the government by terror.
-
an agent or partisan of the revolutionary tribunal during the Reign of Terror in France.
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing terrorist
President Obama's Speech to the Nation about Terrorism
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
American Naturalization Test, List 3
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Fear and Loathing in Cleveland: Trump's RNC Acceptance Speech
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But it insisted it "operates against the Hezbollah terrorist organisation, not against the Lebanese army" and added that it was "reviewing the incident".
From Barron's • Jun. 6, 2026
State Department designated the insurgents a global terrorist group in 2021.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 3, 2026
Some digital investments seemed wild at the time, like when Diller stuck with his bid for Expedia after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks halted flights and damped travel demand.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026
The terrorist designation came two days after Trump met with the former president's sons, including Senator Flavio Bolsonaro who is running for president in October elections.
From Barron's • May 29, 2026
Also, each accused terrorist is considered an "enemy combatant" and denied some legal protection.
From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
