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

Intelligence community, which Gabbard claims has put her on a secret domestic terrorist watch list which no one can confirm.

From Salon

And the terrorists who Taylor believes are still to come.

From Salon

Mr Khalife previously told jurors he escaped from prison so he would be kept in a high security unit away from "sex offenders" and "terrorists" who wanted to harm him.

From BBC

“We can sleep in peace, because there’s someone taking care of the border and not letting terrorists cross towards us.”

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

Related Words

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