This essay uses examples, structured content analysis and induction to analyze the meaning of terrorism. It holds that fear, psychological warfare, violence and destruction, social and political, and propagandistic and criminal goals are the basic connotations of terrorism. While there is debate on the meaning of terrorism, there still exist points of consensus. The international community (including international and national laws) considers terrorism politically or socially motivated violence, but we must not take this behavior too literally in considering it an “ism”.