Spanish word

terrorista

Pronunciation

IPA/teroˈɾista/

Meaning

  • noun (m./f.)terrorist

Example

La policía detuvo al terrorista.

The police arrested the terrorist.

Illustration for terrorista (terrorist)

More examples

El terrorista fue condenado a cadena perpetua.

The terrorist was sentenced to life in prison.

Core concept

Person who uses or supports violent acts to instill fear in a civilian population.

Common phrases

  • detener al terrorista

    arrest the terrorist

  • juzgar al terrorista

    bring the terrorist to trial

Similar words

extremista: Advocates radical political positions and supports extreme tactics to achieve ideological goals.
militante: Engages actively in a political organization, taking part in campaigns, protests, or direct actions.
fanático: Acts with fanatic devotion to a faith or ideology, prioritizing belief over compromise.
subversivo: Works to destabilize or overturn societal or governmental structures through subversive acts.

Definition in Spanish

Término que designa a quien realiza o apoya acciones terroristas; palabra con fuerte carga legal y moral usada para señalar a responsables de violencia extrema.

Word origin

The word comes from Latin terror 'fear' via French, and the Spanish suffix -ista marks an agent or adherent, so terrorista denotes someone who carries out or supports terror.

Usage tips

  • The label carries strong legal and moral weight in Spanish, so journalists and officials often use qualifiers such as presunto, sospechoso, or grupo armado instead of naming someone terrorista.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word