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terrorisme

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Etymology and origin of the French word terrorisme

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1794 a motion by Cadroy More words from the 18th century
Ultimate origin
Latin terror
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
French terrorisme
English terrorism

Pronunciation

  • /tɛ.ʁɔ.ʁism/[1]
  • /tɛ.ʁɔ.ʁizm/[1]
  • /te.ʁɔ.ʁism/[1]
  • /te.ʁɔ.ʁizm/[1]

Forms

terrorisme m (plural terrorismes)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French terreur + -isme, with the stem shaped after Latin terror (“great fear”).[2][3][4] Its base is the word as the name of the Terror, the period of the Revolution in 1793–1794.[3][5] The GLLF calls it a learned derivative of terreur.[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded on 14 November 1794, in a motion by Cadroy to the Jacobins' society, for the doctrine of the partisans of the Terror: le terrorisme rugit encore autour de vous “terrorism still roars around you”.[2][7]

Semantic evolution

The word belonged at first to the Thermidorian reaction against the Terror; by 1795 it was extended to emergency measures used to keep or take power, as in terrorisme royal, and Hugo wrote of a terrorisme bonapartiste in 1852.[2][6] From 1827–1828 it was also used of the intolerance of an ideology's followers (terrorisme de la vertu), and Sartre spoke of terrorisme littéraire in 1947.[2]

The sense “systematic use of violence for political ends” is recorded from 1876 and became common from 1918; today it most often means acts of violence meant to create insecurity.[7][6] Terrorisme intellectuel dates from about 1950.[7] antiterrorisme appeared as early as 1795, and contre-terrorisme about 1960, for fighting terrorists with similar means.[7]

English borrowed it in 1795 as terrorism, first of the French Reign of Terror.[8]

Timeline

  • 1794 – First recorded for the doctrine of the Terror.[2][7]
  • 1795 – Terrorisme royal extends it to other regimes, and antiterrorisme appears.[2][7]
  • 1795 – English borrows the word.[8]
  • 1827–1828 – Used for ideological intolerance.[2]
  • 1876 – First used for systematic political violence.[7][6]
  • 1947 – Sartre writes of terrorisme littéraire.[2]
  • c. 1950 – Terrorisme intellectuel appears.[7]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (history) The policy of terror of the French Revolution in 1793–1794.[5][6]
  2. Terrorism: the systematic use of violence, such as attacks and hostage-taking, by a group to reach a political aim.[5][6]
  3. An attitude of intimidation: terrorisme intellectuel.[5][7]

Word family

  • antiterrorisme
  • contre-terrorisme

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ a b c d e f Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Terrorisme.” Etymologically, 14 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/terrorisme. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

Last edited on . ·