terrorist act

/ˌtɛrərəst ækt/

Other forms: terrorist acts

Definitions of terrorist act

1. noun

   the calculated use of violence (or the threat of violence) against civilians in order to attain goals that are political or religious or ideological in nature; this is done through intimidation or coercion or instilling fear
   synonyms: act of terrorism, terrorism

   examples:

   Red Hand Defenders

   a paramilitary group of Protestants in Northern Ireland that tries to prevent any political settlement with the Irish Republic; attacks interests of Catholic civilians in Northern Ireland; responsible for arson and bombing and murder

   types:

   biological terrorism, bioterrorism

   terrorism using the weapons of biological warfare

   chemical terrorism

   terrorism using the chemical agents of chemical warfare; can undermine the personal security of citizens

   cyber-terrorism, cyberterrorism, cyberwar

   an assault on electronic communication networks

   domestic terrorism

   terrorism practiced in your own country against your own people

   eco-warfare, ecological terrorism, ecological warfare, ecoterrorism

   violence carried out to further the political or social objectives of the environmentalists

   international terrorism

   terrorism practiced in a foreign country by terrorists who are not native to that country

   narcoterrorism

   the financing of terrorist activities by participation in the drug trade

   nuclear terrorism

   the use of a nuclear device by a terrorist organization to cause massive devastation or the use (or threat of use) of fissionable radioactive materials

   state-sponsored terrorism

   terrorism practiced by a government against its own people or in support of international terrorism

   theoterrorism

   terrorism for a religious purpose

   terrorist attack

   a surprise attack involving the deliberate use of violence against civilians in the hope of attaining political or religious aims

   type of:

   terror

   the use of extreme fear in order to coerce people (especially for political reasons)