terrorist

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noun

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

terrorist

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adjective

: 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

There 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

Examples of terrorist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Prosecutors said some of the dozens that have already pleaded guilty in the case used the money to buy luxury cars, real estate, jewelry and international vacations, with some of the funds also sent overseas and potentially into the hands of Islamic terrorists. —Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 7 Jan. 2026

This had nothing to do with a narco-terrorist, drug cartels or corruption. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2026

Adjective

In the same year, Dykstra had drug and terrorist threat charges dropped following an altercation with an Uber driver. —Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026

According to the Department of Justice, Adel El Zabayar allegedly worked with Maduro to distribute cocaine and weapons in coordination with terrorist organizations. —Graham Kates, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1794, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1795, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing terrorist

• anti-terrorist