terrorist

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noun

ter·​ror·​ist ˈter-ər-ist 

plural terrorists

: an advocate or practitioner of terrorism as a means of coercion

Opposition still runs high to the idea of releasing or bringing into U.S. prisons dozens of men widely considered dangerous terrorists even if many are not.

Less than three weeks before the Winter Olympics are set to begin in the Russian city of Sochi, police there have begun hunting for suspected terrorists allegedly plotting attacks.

—Time

terrorist

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adjective

: or, relating to, or characteristic of terrorists or terrorism : practicing or involving violent acts of terror

a terrorist organization

The consequences of the U.S. response to the terrorist attacks of September 2001 will ramify for decades.

—Joe Klein

There is no margin for error when a real terrorist threat is present and the safety of the public, and the first responders, is in jeopardy.

—Gary J. Laughlin

Examples of terrorist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

He’s gotten under the skin of the government and been branded a domestic terrorist for his radical views. —Matt Thompson, SPIN, 5 Nov. 2024

Indian officials had declared him a wanted terrorist before he was killed. —Rebecca Falconer, Axios, 30 Oct. 2024

Adjective

Justice said Abdullah was convicted of conspiring to provide, and providing, material support to a foreign terrorist organization; conspiring to murder U.S. nationals; aircraft piracy; destroying aircraft and transnational acts of terrorism. —Tara Suter, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2024

On Monday, he was further convicted on counts of providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, conspiring to commit aircraft piracy, conspiring to destroy aircraft and conspiring to commit acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries. —Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 5 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1794, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1795, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing terrorist

• anti-terrorist