noun
terrorist
TEH-ruh-rihst
noun
1
A person who uses violence and fear against civilians to pursue political or ideological goals.
"The bombing was carried out by a group of terrorists."
"Governments around the world tightened airport security after the attack by terrorists."
adj
1
Relating to terrorism or the people who carry it out.
"The city set up a terrorist watch list after the threats."
How to Use Terrorist
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who deliberately targets or threatens ordinary people with violence to force political change.
Common mistake
A loaded, politically charged word — news outlets and governments often disagree on when it applies, so it is used more cautiously in formal writing than in everyday speech.
Common pairings
terrorist attack
terrorist organization
suspected terrorist
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “terrorist”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The bombing was carried out by a group of _____.
Etymology
From French terroriste, built from terror plus the agent-forming suffix -ist. The word first appeared in English in the 1790s to describe those behind the Reign of Terror in revolutionary France.