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terroriste

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Etymology and origin of the French word terroriste

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1794 Babeuf, Journal de la Liberté de la Presse More words from the 18th century
Ultimate origin
Latin terror
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
French terroriste
English terrorist
Romanian terorist

Pronunciation

  • /tɛ.ʁɔ.ʁist/[1]
  • /te.ʁɔ.ʁist/[1]

Forms

terroriste m or f by sense (plural terroristes)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French terreur + -iste, after the form of the source word, Latin terror (“terror”).[2][1][3] Bloch and Wartburg derive it from the name of the Terror, a period of the Revolution (1793–1794), shaped after the Latin form.[4] The French noun for terror was itself borrowed from Latin in the 13th century.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It was first used in August 1794 by Babeuf, as an adjective in patriotes terroristes, of the supporters of the regime of the Terror;[2][4] Babeuf added that the French always love variety and that the expression would become fashionable.[2][4] Terrorisme appeared the same year.[5][4]

Semantic evolution

After Thermidor the word named those who had supported or taken part in the Terror.[6] By extension it came to mean someone who commits acts of terrorism (1831, Chateaubriand), and the adjective was applied to doctrines (1855) and to armed bands (1860).[2] The use of systematic violence for a political end is recorded from 1876 and spread from 1918.[5]

English borrowed terrorist in 1795, of the Jacobins.[7]

Timeline

  • 1794 – Babeuf writes of patriotes terroristes.[2]
  • 1795 – English terrorist is borrowed from it.[7]
  • 1795 – Antiterroriste appears during the Thermidorian reaction.[5]
  • 1831 – Chateaubriand uses it of perpetrators of terrorist acts.[2][8]
  • 1855 – Sand writes doctrine terroriste.[2]
  • 1860 – Michelet writes bande terroriste.[2]
  • c. 1960 – Contre-terroriste is formed.[5]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (history) A supporter or agent of the Terror during the French Revolution.[8][2]
  2. A member of an organization that uses terrorism as a means of action; a terrorist.[8][1]

Adjective

  1. (history) Relating to the Terror.[8]
  2. Relating to terrorism; using terrorism: attentat terroriste.[8][6]

Word family

  • antiterroriste
  • contre-terroriste

References

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

“Terroriste.” Etymologically, 14 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/terroriste. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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