# What is the origin of the word terrorist?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-the-word-terrorist/277257>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 30, 2004, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-the-word-terrorist/277257 "2004-11-30T01:46:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![patrickharan5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@patrickharan5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/patrickharan5)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-the-word-terrorist/277257/1 "2004-11-30T01:46:45Z")

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[  
I was wondering if anyone knows the origin of the word terrorist. I believe it was first used by Maggie Thatcher to describe IRA members in England. When I mentioned this, my drinking mates all shouted me down, saying the term had been used earlier to describe Algerians fighting the French. I still believe that I am right, but cannot find proof to rub under my adversaries cumulative nostrils.  
PLEASE HELP!!![

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**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-the-word-terrorist/277257/2 "2004-11-30T01:51:05Z")

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Try France, during the Terror after the Revolution (1793-4?)

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**Author:** ![patrickharan5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@patrickharan5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/patrickharan5)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-the-word-terrorist/277257/3 "2004-11-30T02:07:25Z")

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This term has been used often in history, but to call an individual a terrorist or an organization a terrorist organization is what i am looking for. Who first used the term Terrorism???

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**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-the-word-terrorist/277257/4 "2004-11-30T02:13:56Z")

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I do believe Edmund Burke first used the term in English to describe the antics of Robespierre and company. This would have been around 1795.

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**Author:** ![patrickharan5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@patrickharan5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/patrickharan5)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-the-word-terrorist/277257/5 "2004-11-30T02:27:55Z")

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I will definitely have to do some reading on that subject. Thanks for showing me a direction to head in.

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**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-the-word-terrorist/277257/6 "2004-11-30T02:37:56Z")

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[http://www.wordorigins.org/wordort.htm#Terrorism](http://www.wordorigins.org/wordort.htm#Terrorism)

Dave Wilton publishes an excellent word site.

Indeed, the French Revolution.

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**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2004, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-origin-of-the-word-terrorist/277257/7 "2004-11-30T02:39:15Z")

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Webster’s 1913 contains this entry for [Terrorist](http://machaut.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/WEBSTER.sh?WORD=terrorist):

> [@](#):
>
> Ter"ror\*ist, n. [F. terroriste.] One who governs by terrorism or intimidation; specifically, an agent or partisan of the revolutionary tribunal during the Reign of Terror in France. Burke. \<-- 2. One who commits terrorism{2}. --\>