jihadist
jihadist Lexical Profile
jihadist Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Relating to, characteristic of, or advocating militant Islamic extremism or armed jihad.
"Security analysts published a comprehensive report examining the online recruitment strategies of jihadist networks."
• noun
A person who advocates or participates in a militant Islamic movement perceived as an armed religious struggle.
"International counterterrorism agencies cooperated closely to track the movements of suspected jihadists across borders."
Word Nuance & Usage
While traditional Islamic theology defines 'jihad' broadly to include internal spiritual striving, 'jihadist' in modern English political and journalistic usage refers specifically to militant extremists who advocate or engage in armed conflict.
• Rhymes for jihadist
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the late 20th century from 'jihad' (from Arabic 'jihād', meaning 'struggle' or 'striving') combined with the English agentive suffix '-ist'.