terrorist
Americannoun
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a person, usually a member of a group, who uses or advocates terrorism.
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a person who terrorizes or frightens others.
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(formerly) a member of a political group in Russia aiming at the demoralization of the government by terror.
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an agent or partisan of the revolutionary tribunal during the Reign of Terror in France.
adjective
noun
Other Word Forms
- terroristic adjective
Etymology
Origin of terrorist
First recorded in 1785–95; terror + -ist; compare French terroriste
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.
At the time the diaspora ministry said the measure was needed to prevent "the infiltration of terrorist operatives into humanitarian structures".
From BBC
No thoughts and prayers, even, just a rush to dehumanize the dead with labels such as “domestic terrorist” before any investigation.
From Los Angeles Times
The law was first passed in 2019, when the United States classified the Guards as a terrorist organisation.
From Barron's
"Let's be accurate, my bill talks about terrorists and about an act of terrorism, there's no discrimination here. The definition is very clear," he says.
From BBC
NSO Group insists it only sells its spyware to governments to help track terrorists and criminals.
From BBC
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.