terrorist

Terrorist refers to individuals or groups that use violence or the threat of violence to pursue political, religious, or ideological aims, with the intent to intimidate or coerce a broader audience beyond immediate victims. Attacks are often directed at civilians or symbolic targets, and they aim to attract attention and influence policy. Definitions vary widely; there is no single universal definition of terrorism in international law, and the label is highly contested and politicized.

Most commonly, terrorism is associated with non-state actors—rebellious movements, extremist organizations, or criminal networks—but some states have employed or sponsored terrorist acts as policy. Tactics include bombings, shootings, hijackings, assassinations, and the use of media or cyber tools to amplify fear. Attacks may be accompanied by propaganda and claims of responsibility to maximize psychological impact.

International and national instruments designate certain organizations as terrorist or proscribe specific acts as terrorism for purposes of criminal punishment, sanctions, and counter-terrorism cooperation. Because of divergent legal standards, lists and designations vary across jurisdictions and over time.

Debates surround the term, including whether some groups engaged in violence for independence or liberation should be labeled terrorists, while others argue that terrorism is inherently non-state violence or violates humanitarian norms. Human rights and humanitarian law distinguish between combatants and civilians, and prohibit targeting of noncombatants.

Counter-terrorism efforts emphasize law enforcement, intelligence gathering, border controls, financial sanctions, and prevention of radicalization, while aiming to protect civil liberties and avoid collective punishment. The term continues to evolve as new threats emerge, such as cyber-terrorism and transnational networks.