What does terrorization mean?
Terrorization is a noun for the deliberate act or practice of making people live in fear. It can refer to a sustained course of threats, violence, or other intimidation, or more broadly to the condition imposed by such conduct. The word is related to the Latin terror, meaning fright or terror, but is less common than the more specific term terrorism. Terrorism usually refers to organized or ideologically motivated violence intended to intimidate a population, whereas terrorization can describe intimidation by an individual, family, community, government, or other actor. It therefore often carries a strong connotation of repeated coercion and the destruction of security rather than ordinary fright. The word appears in political, legal, journalistic, and activist discussions of domestic abuse, persecution, and abuses of state power. Because it can describe both a method and an experience, careful writers may specify what was done and who suffered it.
nounThe deliberate act or practice of terrorizing someone, especially through sustained threats, intimidation, or violence; less commonly, the condition of being subjected to such treatment.
- The deliberate act or practice of terrorizing people, especially by intimidation, threats, or violence.
- The condition of being subjected to such fear or intimidation.
"Years of unanswered calls and threats became a form of terrorization that isolated the family."
"Years of unanswered calls and threats became a form of terrorization that isolated the family."
"The inquiry documented the systematic terrorization of political prisoners and recommended remedies."
The plural is grammatically correct but rare; separate instances of intimidation are usually expressed with “acts” or “campaigns” of terrorization.
"The report catalogued the terrorizations endured by witnesses in several towns."
Terrorization names a form of power in which fear itself becomes the weapon and the target is a community’s sense of safety.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does terrorization come from?
Terrorization is an English noun formed in the 19th century from the verb terrorize and the suffix -ation. The verb dates to the 17th century and derives from Latin terror, a form of Latin terrificare, “to frighten,” which in turn comes from terrere, “to frighten.” Related English words include terror, terrible, terrify, and terrorism.
How terrorization is actually used
This word is formal and less common than “intimidation” or “terrorism.” It is often used when emphasizing a sustained campaign of fear rather than a single frightening act. British writers also commonly use the spelling “terrorisation.”
Easily confused with terrorization
Terrorization more generally means the deliberate intimidation or terrorizing of people, while terrorism usually refers to politically or ideologically motivated violence or its threat.