terrorist

[ter-er-ist]

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.

adjective

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

   terrorist tactics.

terrorist

/ ˈtɛrərɪst /

noun

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

   2. ( as modifier )

      terrorist tactics

Other Word Forms

• terroristic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of terrorist¹

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

Example Sentences

Israel's defence minister has warned that those who stay during the offensive would be "terrorists and supporters of terror".

From BBC

The president recently signed an executive order designating the group, which is a loosely organised movement of far-left activists, as a domestic terrorist organisation.

From BBC

Supporters of "the former regime or terrorist organisations" were barred from membership, as were advocates of "secession, division or seeking foreign intervention".

From BBC

Right now we are being forced to consider whether the president of the United States can legally order the military to murder “non-international” civilians he has unilaterally declared to be drug trafficking terrorists.

From Salon

Uproar resumed in the vigil crowd as Mr Lammy said "that is why we stand in defiance of those terrorists who seek to divide us".

From BBC

Related Words

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