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

Some reader submissions will be used in USA TODAY Network coverage marking 25 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. — Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026

No prominent leader has explained what governments will do when the scariest AI capabilities are diffused around the world and become accessible to criminals and terrorists. — Foreign Affairs, 10 Aug. 2026

Adjective

The Friday after the event is September 11th, marking the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks. — David Phelan, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026

Danon slammed anti-Israel critics for relying on fake terrorist data while Hamas actively hijacked and marked up aid. — Staff, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 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