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

Derived Forms

• ˌterrorˈistic, adjective

Other Words From

• terror·istic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of terrorist¹

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

Example Sentences

He said the 9/11 terrorist attacks sparked his interest in public service.

From Los Angeles Times

"With this bill he can destroy the very life of civil society in this country, one group after another, even though the group involved that he targets as a 'terrorist supporting group' has no violated a single law."

From Salon

Abdelhakim Sefrioui and Brahim Chnina are accused of identifying Samuel Paty as a "blasphemer" in online videos and of involvement in a "criminal terrorist" group and complicity in "terrorist murder".

From BBC

The names of full-fledged undercover officers — who work deep-cover operations with outlaw biker gangs, terrorist groups or drug cartels — are kept out of department records and are known to only a handful of superiors.

From Los Angeles Times

As such, when Jinx commits her terrorist attack, both the immediate victims and Piltover citizens overall are aggressively dismissive of arguments about Zaunian social justice.

From Salon

Related Words

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