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

Another high point for congressional oversight came after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001. — Gibbs Knotts, The Conversation, 4 Nov. 2026

Marysia’s friend who is a radical left-wing terrorist told her that Żabka is, moreover, a sect; all the employees go to evil religious camps together. — Olivia Kan-Sperling, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026

Adjective

Malm was traveling to speak at a conference alongside a co-founder of Palestine Action, a direct action group that the UK classified as a terrorist organization last year. — James Folta, Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026

Eisenkot has said the Arab parties' positions on Hamas and the war in Gaza prevent him from governing with them — some have refused to endorse the military goal of eliminating Hamas, or condemning it as a terrorist organization. — Itay Stern, NPR, 30 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1794, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1795, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing terrorist

• anti-terrorist