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

The threat comes as terrorist groups, lone-actor terrorists and other violent extremists continue to plot possible attacks in those areas with little to no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets and local government facilities. —Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2025

Friday was a bad day for terrorists, but a good day for victims. —Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 22 June 2025

Adjective

The regime is teetering on the brink, and its terrorist proxies are too weak to help it. —Carlo Versano, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025

The recovery of three bodies on Sunday is the latest in a more-than-yearlong campaign by Israel to bring home hostages taken by Hamas during the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack. —Mackenzie Thomas, The Washington Examiner, 24 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1794, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1795, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing terrorist

• anti-terrorist