1. Home
  2. News & Issues
  3. Terrorism Issues

Definitions of Terrorism

By Amy Zalman, Ph.D., About.com

4 of 8

U.S. Department of Defense Definition of Terrorism

The Department of Defense Dictionary of Military Terms defines terrorism as:

The calculated use of unlawful violence or threat of unlawful violence to inculcate fear; intended to coerce or to intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of goals that are generally political, religious, or ideological.

4 of 8

Explore Terrorism Issues

More from About.com

  1. Home
  2. News & Issues
  3. Terrorism Issues
  4. What is Terrorism?
  5. U.S. Department of Defense Definition of Terrorism

©2008 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.