Word
Definitions
01political violence
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. someone who uses violence, like bombs or attacks, to scare people and force a government to change.
n. a person who uses unlawful violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims.
日本語:テロリスト※
“The government increased security at the airport to prevent a terrorist attack.”
“International intelligence agencies collaborated to dismantle the network before the terrorist cell could execute its planned assault on the capital.”
Usage
Often used as a modifier before other nouns like 'attack', 'group', or 'threat'.
Antonyms
02relating to terrorism
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. relating to or involving the use of violence for political reasons.
adj. of or relating to the characteristics or actions of terrorism; typically used as an attributive adjective.
“The police are investigating several terrorist threats made online.”
“The new legislation aims to curb terrorist financing by increasing the transparency of international wire transfers.”
Usage
This adjective form is non-gradable; one cannot be 'more terrorist' than another.
Synonyms
03French Revolution
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Archaic · Technical
n. a person involved in the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution.
n. an agent or partisan of the revolutionary tribunal during the Reign of Terror in France (1793–1794).
“In history class, we learned how the original terrorists were part of the French Revolution.”
“The term was originally applied to the Jacobins, specifically those terrorists who orchestrated the state-sanctioned executions during the revolutionary period.”
Teaching tip
This is the historical origin of the word; in modern contexts, it has lost this specific association with state-led French history.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “terrorist” in context.
Verb
01. capture a terrorist
“Special forces worked through the night to capture the terrorist responsible for the bombing.”
verb + noun
02. negotiate with terrorists
“The government maintained its strict policy that it would never negotiate with terrorists.”
verb + prep + noun
Adjective
03. convicted terrorist
“The convicted terrorist was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.”
adj + noun
04. suspected terrorist
“Police are currently questioning a suspected terrorist who was detained at the border.”
adj + noun
Noun
05. terrorist attack
“Security was tightened across the city following the recent terrorist attack on the subway.”
noun + noun
06. terrorist cell
“Authorities successfully dismantled a small terrorist cell that was planning a series of raids.”
noun + noun
07. terrorist group
“Intelligence agencies are monitoring the activities of a new terrorist group in the region.”
noun + noun
08. terrorist threat
“The national alert level was raised due to a credible terrorist threat against public transport.”
noun + noun
09. terrorist organisation
10. terrorist attacks
11. terrorist financing
Real-World Examples
“The US has for years refused contact with Hamas, which it classifies as a “terrorist organisation”.” “Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: "We must do everything we can to make sure the antisemitic terrorist attack in Bondi doesn't happen again.” “However, the Israel Defense Forces have carried out several strikes in Gaza since then - the latest on "terrorists" in Khan Yunis and Nuseirat areas of Gaza - accusing Hamas of breaking the truce.” Etymology
From terror + -ist. In the historical sense, after French terroriste. First used in 1794 in the Courier and Evening Gazette.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/terrorist
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「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR