terrorist

IPA/ˈterərɪst/
KK[tˈɛrɚɪst]IPA/ˈterərɪst/

terrorist — noun

  • terroristsingular
  • terroristsplural

1. a person who deliberately uses violence, or the threat of violence, against ordi

1.nounB2
Definition

a person who deliberately uses violence, or the threat of violence, against ordinary people in order to create widespread fear and achieve political or ideological goals

Example

The police arrested three members of a terrorist cell that was planning an airport attack.

noun used attributively: terrorist cell

Rafael believes that labeling someone a terrorist can affect how the public views them.

pattern: label someone a terrorist

Common collocations
  • label someone a terrorist
  • suspected terrorist
  • convicted terrorist
  • known terrorist
  • terrorist cell
  • terrorist network
Synonyms
  • extremist

    broader term — can describe someone with radical views who may not use violence

  • militant

    can refer to someone engaged in political activism or fighting, not necessarily targeting civilians

  • guerrilla

    typically refers to a member of an irregular armed force that targets military, not civilian, objectives

  • insurgent

    someone who fights against an established government or authority, not necessarily through terror tactics

Antonyms
  • peacemaker

    someone who actively works to prevent conflict and resolve disputes without violence

  • civilian

    a person who is not a member of a military or armed group

Grammar Patterns

a/the terrorist

terrorist + noun (attributive use)

Usage Note

The noun is frequently used before another noun (terrorist cell, terrorist plot, terrorist network). In news reporting, it is often modified by words such as 'suspected' or 'convicted' to reflect the legal status of the person before a final conviction.

Common Mistakes

The terrorism attacked the city center.
Terrorists attacked the city center.
'Terrorism' is the practice or ideology; 'terrorist' is the person who carries out the violent acts.
He was arrested as terrorist.
He was arrested as a terrorist.
The noun is countable and needs a determiner in singular form.

terrorist — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe people involved in political conflict, but they differ in method and target. An extremist holds views far outside the mainstream — they may or may not use violence. A militant is actively engaged in struggle, which can be political activism or armed conflict, but the term does not necessarily imply targeting civilians. A guerrilla fights as part of an irregular military force, usually against a government army, and typically attacks military rather than civilian targets. An insurgent leads or joins an armed rebellion against an established authority. A terrorist specifically targets non-combatants — civilians — intending to create fear as a weapon. For example, a guerrilla may attack a military checkpoint; a terrorist bombs a market. An extremist might only spread hateful speech; a militant could organize street protests. The lines can blur in real-world conflicts, where one side's 'terrorist' may be another side's 'freedom fighter'.

extremist ↗militant ↗guerrilla ↗insurgent ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • suspected terrorist
  • convicted terrorist
  • known terrorist
  • accused terrorist

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word entered English in the late 1700s from French 'terroriste', which was first used during the French Revolution's Reign of Terror (1793–1794) to describe supporters of the revolutionary government who used terror as a tool of state control. The French word was formed from 'terreur' (from Latin 'terror', meaning great fear) plus the suffix '-iste' (English '-ist', meaning a person who practices or believes in something). By the mid-1800s the meaning shifted to describe individuals or groups who use violence against civilians to achieve political aims, especially anarchists and revolutionary movements in Europe and Russia.