terrorist
1 of 2noun
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
Timeterrorist
2 of 2adjective
: 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
Joe KleinThere 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
Gary J. Laughlin
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Khalid Razak, NBC News, 1 Sep. 2022 The games turned deadly after members of the Black September terrorist group entered the Olympic Village, killing two Israeli athletes and taking nine others hostage. Aaron Boxerman, WSJ, 31 Aug. 2022 The authorities have said that elements of the Boko Haram terrorist group had teamed up with local bandits for the attack. New York Times, 5 June 2022 Three days later, Algerians watched on television as the 32-year-old confessed to involvement with an organization that authorities have listed as an Islamist terrorist group plotting against the Algerian government. Elaine Ganley, ajc, 28 May 2022 The President also announced the killing of Ayman al-Zawahiri, perhaps the world’s most wanted terrorist, after a two-decade manhunt. Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2022 Experts said Fridrich's decision demonstrates the challenge prosecutors face in meeting the exceptionally high standard to formally label someone a terrorist under the law. Lucien Bruggeman, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2022 The scale model of the terrorist’s safe house is in the box on the table. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 2 Aug. 2022 Zawahiri, the world’s most wanted terrorist and one of the masterminds of the 9/11 terror attacks, was killed after months of highly secret planning by Biden and a tight circle of his senior advisers. Alexandra Meeks, CNN, 2 Aug. 2022 Max Colchester, WSJ, 15 Sep. 2022 Victims of terrorist attacks in the '80s and '90s against U.S. embassies and military installations sent an earlier letter to Mr. Biden, urging him to change course. Catherine Herridge, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2022 Almost nothing that happened in the generation between the murder of John Lennon on Dec. 8, 1980, and the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, warrants a date. Chris Klimek, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2022 The nonprofit National Emergency Number Association will remodel the city’s communications center, which was established after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and has been in need of improvements for years. Sig Christenson, San Antonio Express-News, 14 Sep. 2022 More news to know now: 💛 Americans honored lives lost for the 21st anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2022 The Avon Lake High School Key Club was one of many groups across Northeast Ohio honoring the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on America. Linda Gandee, cleveland, 12 Sep. 2022 Americans gathered Sunday for ceremonies to honor the people who lost their lives in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Harold Maass, The Week, 12 Sep. 2022 The Saturday Night Live alum's younger sibling shared a tribute to Scott Davidson, a New York City firefighter who died in the 2001 terrorist attacks, on Sunday, 9/11's 21st anniversary. Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2022 See More
Noun
The street battles are a symptom of a power vacuum in Iraqi politics that many analysts regard as the greatest threat to the country's stability after years of war, civil unrest and the Islamic State terrorist group's militancy. Khalid Razak, NBC News, 1 Sep. 2022 The games turned deadly after members of the Black September terrorist group entered the Olympic Village, killing two Israeli athletes and taking nine others hostage. Aaron Boxerman, WSJ, 31 Aug. 2022 The authorities have said that elements of the Boko Haram terrorist group had teamed up with local bandits for the attack. New York Times, 5 June 2022 Three days later, Algerians watched on television as the 32-year-old confessed to involvement with an organization that authorities have listed as an Islamist terrorist group plotting against the Algerian government. Elaine Ganley, ajc, 28 May 2022 The President also announced the killing of Ayman al-Zawahiri, perhaps the world’s most wanted terrorist, after a two-decade manhunt. Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2022 Experts said Fridrich's decision demonstrates the challenge prosecutors face in meeting the exceptionally high standard to formally label someone a terrorist under the law. Lucien Bruggeman, ABC News, 2 Aug. 2022 The scale model of the terrorist’s safe house is in the box on the table. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 2 Aug. 2022 Zawahiri, the world’s most wanted terrorist and one of the masterminds of the 9/11 terror attacks, was killed after months of highly secret planning by Biden and a tight circle of his senior advisers. Alexandra Meeks, CNN, 2 Aug. 2022 Adjective
Earlier this week, government officials convened an emergency response meeting—which is normally called to deal with national emergencies like terrorist attacks or natural catastrophes—to discuss the prospect of a very long line. Max Colchester, WSJ, 15 Sep. 2022 Victims of terrorist attacks in the '80s and '90s against U.S. embassies and military installations sent an earlier letter to Mr. Biden, urging him to change course. Catherine Herridge, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2022 Almost nothing that happened in the generation between the murder of John Lennon on Dec. 8, 1980, and the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, warrants a date. Chris Klimek, Washington Post, 15 Sep. 2022 The nonprofit National Emergency Number Association will remodel the city’s communications center, which was established after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and has been in need of improvements for years. Sig Christenson, San Antonio Express-News, 14 Sep. 2022 More news to know now: 💛 Americans honored lives lost for the 21st anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2022 The Avon Lake High School Key Club was one of many groups across Northeast Ohio honoring the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on America. Linda Gandee, cleveland, 12 Sep. 2022 Americans gathered Sunday for ceremonies to honor the people who lost their lives in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Harold Maass, The Week, 12 Sep. 2022 The Saturday Night Live alum's younger sibling shared a tribute to Scott Davidson, a New York City firefighter who died in the 2001 terrorist attacks, on Sunday, 9/11's 21st anniversary. Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1794, in the meaning defined above
Adjective
1795, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing terrorist
Kids Definition
terrorist
noun
ter·ror·ist
ˈter-ər-ist
: someone who engages in terrorism