terrorism

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "terrorism" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the word "terrorism" to refer to the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims. For example: "The terrorist attack resulted in numerous deaths and a heightened sense of fear throughout the city."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Now the Home Office is once again increasing the number of local authorities involved, alongside controversial plans to place a duty on universities, schools and local authorities to "prevent people from being drawn into terrorism", through an amendment to the counter-terror and security bill, which is at the Lords report stage.

The Guardian

There may be little appetite for further bloodshed from the Real IRA, and US president George Bush's new ultimatums on world terrorism may see further decline in support for Irish nationalists from the US.

The Guardian

"Human rights are not only violated by terrorism, repression or assassination, but also by unfair economic structures that creates huge inequalities," he said at the time.

The Guardian

Breen, currently writing his personal story of life as a policeman during the conflict, said: "I had approached numerous RUC officers who were keen to leave a living record of what went on in their fight against terrorism over the years.

The Guardian

The first academic casualty of the Boston College-Jean McConville furore has been a parallel project which was to involve a London-based historian and an ex-RUC officer as well as retired members of the Garda Siochana in the Irish Republic, all with long records in fighting terrorism.

The Guardian

Terrorism (including Irish terrorism) emerged as the No 1 priority, followed, less predictably, by cyberwarfare.

The Guardian - Opinion

He said that the government was committed to securing the maximum number of convictions in terrorism and serious crime cases: "The experience of other countries is that the use of evidence gathered through interception may help to achieve that.

The Guardian

Because, what, she might know something about terrorism?" he said.

The Guardian

A growth in measures against "offensive" speech and greater surveillance of media under the guise of combatting terrorism are also documented in the report, which was written by Shawn Crispin.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

According to the New York Times, 30 specialists from the state department, FBI and Pentagon, with medical, intelligence, counter-terrorism and communications expertise, have been sent to Nigeria.

The Guardian

The review was aimed at achieving a more rigorous approach to who should get counter-terrorism money, and what it regards as Labour's bungling.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about "terrorism", be specific about the context and motivations behind the acts to avoid generalizations and ensure accurate representation.

Common error

Be specific when discussing "terrorism". Avoid using the term loosely, as it can lead to misrepresentation and misinterpretation of complex situations. Always consider the specific context and motivations.

Linguistic Context

The word "terrorism" functions primarily as a noun, referring to the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims. As Ludwig indicates, it is correctly and widely used in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "terrorism" is a noun that refers to the deliberate use of violence to create fear for political or social goals. As Ludwig AI confirms, the word is grammatically correct and very common in English, predominantly appearing in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. While the term is widely used, it's important to be specific and avoid overgeneralization. Semantically related terms include "acts of terror", "political violence", and "extremist violence". It's essential to use the term accurately and avoid misrepresentation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

acts of terror

Focuses on the specific actions rather than the broad concept of terrorism.

terrorist activities

Highlights the actions and operations undertaken by terrorists.

violent extremism

Broader term encompassing ideologies that support or justify violence to achieve goals.

extremist violence

Emphasizes the extremist ideology driving the violence, which can be narrower or broader than terrorism.

campaign of terror

Implies a sustained and coordinated effort to instill fear.

political violence

Highlights the political motivation behind violent acts, broadening the scope beyond terrorism.

criminal violence for political aims

Expands on the definition, adding 'criminal violence' to 'political aims'.

unlawful violence

Highlights the illegal nature of the violence, focusing on the legal aspect.

organized violence

Emphasizes the structured and planned nature of the violent acts.

insurgent attacks

Specifies attacks carried out by insurgents, often within a specific conflict.

FAQs

How can I use the word "terrorism" in a sentence?

The word "terrorism" is used to describe the use of violence and intimidation in pursuit of political aims. For example, "The government is committed to combating "terrorism" in all its forms".

What are some alternative terms for "terrorism"?

Depending on the specific context, you can use alternatives like "acts of terror", "political violence", or "extremist violence".

What's the difference between "terrorism" and "political violence"?

"Terrorism" specifically refers to violence intended to create fear for political or social goals, whereas "political violence" is a broader term that encompasses any violence with a political motive, not necessarily aimed at instilling terror.

Is it correct to use the term "terrorism" for any act of violence?

No, the term "terrorism" should be reserved for acts of violence specifically intended to create fear and advance a political, religious, or ideological cause. Using it for any act of violence can be misleading and inaccurate.