terrorist

American  

[ter-er-ist] / ˈtɛr ər ɪst /

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.

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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

• terroristic adjective

Etymology

Origin of terrorist

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

Example Sentences

After the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, Foa helped train therapists in New York.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

France has banned a major gathering of Muslims in the northern Paris suburbs, saying it could be a terrorist target.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

Police believe he was working alone and not with an overseas terrorist group or foreign government.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

Shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Fulop quit his job as a Goldman Sachs trader to join the Marines and deploy to Iraq.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

The “red cell” committee thought it unlikely that an established terrorist group would work in the United States during a hurricane.

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers

Related Words

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