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

Machado says she's also been accused of being a terrorist and a martyr. —Brittney Melton, NPR, 12 May 2026

Last year, Abbott designated CAIR, a Muslim advocacy and civil rights group, as a foreign terrorist group. —Maven Navarro, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 May 2026

Adjective

French authorities arrested a 27-year-old Tunisian man last Thursday for allegedly planning a terrorist attack at the Louvre in Paris. —Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 12 May 2026

In March 2026, a federal grand jury tacked on additional, more serious charges alleging the shop was providing material support to two Mexican cartels designated as foreign terrorist organizations. —Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 12 May 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