jihadist
2 synonyms for jihadist, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A person who takes part in a jihad, an Islamic holy war or armed struggle.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use jihadist
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
jihadist group
jihadist ideology
jihadist propaganda
former jihadist
The word is mainly used in news, security and political writing rather than everyday conversation.
Etymology
Jihadist is built from jihad with the suffix -ist added. The noun is recorded from the 1910s for someone taking part in a jihad, while the adjective use for the jihadist movement developed later, from the 1960s.
Full origin of jihadist →Frequently asked questions
What does jihadist mean?
It refers to someone who takes part in a jihad, or, more broadly, a supporter of jihadism, the doctrine that calls for armed jihad.
When did the word jihadist first appear in English?
The noun is recorded from the 1910s, while the adjective describing the jihadist movement came into use from the 1960s onward.
Is jihadist the same as mujahid?
They are closely related terms; mujahid is a near-synonym used for someone who takes part in a jihad.
