Definition of terrorist
Etymology
French terroriste. See terror. First used by Edmund Burke
Noun
terrorist (plural terrorists)
- One who governs by terrorism or intimidation; originally applied to an agent or partisan of the revolutionary tribunal during the Reign of Terror in France.
- Anyone who uses terror as a weapon in a political struggle, frequently in an attempt to coerce a more powerful opponent, such as a government.
Adjective
terrorist (not comparable)
- Of or relating to terrorism.
Usage notes
The use of the label "terrorist" is often controversial or subjective, since one person's terrorist may be another's freedom fighter, and vice versa. A cynical definition may be that a terrorist is someone who murders or terrorizes more of those for whom the terrorist is fighting, than his supposed enemies.
Related terms
References:
- Wiktionary. Published under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
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