state-sponsored terrorism
3
7.8
- noun
- /steɪt ˈspɒnsərd ˈtɛrəˌrɪzəm/
- Literature
:
terrorismo patrocinado por el estado
- One could easily build a case that state-sponsored terrorism, revolutions, and wars make even these horrific religion-sponsored catastrophes appear mild by comparison.
A vote that supports four more years of state sponsored terrorism and economic destruction is a wasted vote.
- A vote that supports four more years of state sponsored terrorism and economic destruction is a wasted vote.
Examples
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Many experts believe that state-sponsored terrorism can destabilize entire regions and lead to widespread conflict.
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The report outlined various instances of state-sponsored terrorism that have occurred throughout history, highlighting the dangers it poses.
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Cases of state-sponsored terrorism are one exception.
Academic text (2011) -
State-sponsored terrorism has not disappeared.
Academic text (1996) -
For example, victims of state-sponsored terrorism are often Basque nationalists.
Academic text (2006) -
This is state-sponsored terrorism.
Blog text (23) -
It is the country that most practices state-sponsored terrorism, and it uses its surrogates to supply explosives that kill U.S. troops in Iraq.
Academic text (2007) -
Historical case studies are an excellent way of clarifying the semantics of terrorism, state-sponsored terrorism, and state terrorism, for they offer examples of what each side defines as terrorism in protracted conflict with one another.
Academic text (1990) -
State-sponsored terrorism is any act and/or threat of political violence that an individual considers illegitimate and believes to have been carried out by a nonstate entity that was encouraged, funded, and/or coached by a state.
Academic text (1990) -
Governments that engage in state-sponsored terrorism often provide financial support to militant groups operating in other countries.
Synonyms
795
5.6
Violent acts that people do illegally to frighten others for political or religious reasons
Surface Forms
Morphology
state-sponsored + terrorism
The phrase is compositionally built from 'state' (government) and 'sponsored' (supported or funded), so a learner who knows both words can infer it means terrorism supported or carried out by a government. This agent + sponsored pattern is a straightforward, cross-linguistically common construction, making the full meaning predictable for B1 learners.
Etymology
State-sponsored terrorism comes from the image of a state sponsoring violent groups by giving money, weapons, or orders so they carry out attacks. So it means terrorism that is 'supported' or even 'run' by a government.