terrorism
pronunciation
How to pronounce terrorism in British English:
UK [ˈterərɪzəm]
How to pronounce terrorism in American English:
US [ˈtɛrəˌrɪzəm]
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- Noun:
- the calculated use of violence (or threat of violence) against civilians in order to attain goals that are political or religious or ideological in nature; this is done through intimindation or coercion or instilling fear
Word Origin
- terrorism (n.)
- 1795, in specific sense of "government intimidation during the Reign of Terror in France" (March 1793-July 1794), from French terrorisme, from Latin terror (see terror). If the basis of a popular government in peacetime is virtue, its basis in a time of revolution is virtue and terror -- virtue, without which terror would be barbaric; and terror, without which virtue would be impotent. [Robespierre, speech in French National Convention, 1794] General sense of "systematic use of terror as a policy" is first recorded in English 1798 (in reference to the Irish Rebellion of that year). At one time, a word for a certain kind of mass-destruction terrorism was dynamitism (1883); and during World War I frightfulness (translating German Schrecklichkeit) was used in Britain for "deliberate policy of terrorizing enemy non-combatants."
Example
- 1. But it hasn 't stopped terrorism .
- 2. Executive amnesia is a form of authoritarian terrorism that must be fought .
- 3. There is a reason such acts are called terrorism .
- 4. He could face life in prison on the two terrorism charges .
- 5. The anger increases the likelihood of people sympathizing with or supporting anti-u.s. terrorism , and in some cases joining or initiating such terrorism themselves .