Americka vlada definira terorizam kao protuzakonito korištenje pracenja primjene sile, da bi zastrašila ili naškodila vladi ili društvu. Uglavnom zbog ideoloških i politickih razloga.
The U.S. Government defines terrorism as the unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence to intimidate or coerce governments or societies, often for ideological or political reasons.