terrorism
/ˈtɛrərɪzəm
/noun [mass noun]
The unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims: the fight against terrorism international terrorism...
- There is a lot of back and forth over whether or not animal rights terrorism is really terrorism.
- The focus was largely on the beliefs of those who perpetrated the acts of terrorism.
- We have been putting large sums into a military and political response to the new terrorism.
Origin
Late 18th century (in reference to the rule of the Jacobin faction during the the period of the French Revolution known as the Terror): from French terrorisme, from Latin terror (see terror)..