terrorist

1 of 2

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

2 of 2

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

Henderson said that there was no suspicion the attack was terrorist-related but investigators are working with counter-terrorism officials in their probe. —Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 9 June 2026

After Israel bombarded Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Beirut in retaliation for the Lebanese terrorist group’s rocket fire into northern Israel, the Iranian military responded by launching dozens of ballistic missiles into Israel. —Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2026

Adjective

Terrorism, crime and kidnapping are threats in the southern state, and disputes between terrorist groups, cartels and other criminal organizations have occurred in tourist areas in the past, endangering or even killing bystanders. —Kerry Breen, CBS News, 10 June 2026

The charge of support for a terrorist act carried a maximum of 20 years in prison. —Ahmad Hemingway, ABC News, 10 June 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