「國家恐怖主義」，並未有一個正式嘅學術上或國際上有廣泛認受嘅定義。唔少學者認為，由政府當局執行嘅行動可以話係屬於「國家恐怖主義」。好似話，使用「恐怖主義」來表示主要目的係引起恐慌嘅暴力行動。聯合國指引 聯合國試過喺頒佈嘅《關於「反人類和平安全犯罪」》嘅草案法典度，提出咗有關國際恐怖主義嘅定義。喺法典嘅第4條列明係「為政治目的，武裝由一國領土入侵另一國領土」； 第5條「由一國政府支持或執行造成另一國嘅內亂糾紛，或者該國當局對組織造成另一國嘅內亂糾紛予以容忍嘅」； 第6條「由一國政府支持或執行嘅對另一國嘅恐怖活動，或者該國當局對組織造成另一國嘅恐怖活動予以容忍嘅」，呢啲都係聯合國度對有關恐怖主義嘅規例。草案法典嘅第6條仲清楚描述咗國家有可能採取恐怖主義行動。依照呢部草案法典，國家可以畀認為進行恐怖主義活動犯罪。
There is no formal academic or internationally accepted definition of "state terrorism". Many scholars believe that actions carried out by the government authorities can be described as "state terrorism". It seems that the term "terrorism" is used to denote acts of violence whose main purpose is to cause panic. The United Nations has put forward a definition of international terrorism in the draft code on "crimes against human peace and security". Article 4 of the Code states that "armed invasion of the territory of one State from the territory of another State for political purposes"; Article 5: "Where a dispute caused by civil strife in another State is supported or carried out by the Government of that State, and perhaps the authorities of that State tolerate the organization of a dispute that causes civil strife in another State"; Article 6, "Terrorist activities against another State supported or carried out by a Government, and perhaps tolerated by the authorities of that State for the organization of terrorist activities against another State", are regulations relating to terrorism in the United Nations. Article 6 of the draft Code also clearly describes the possibility for States to commit terrorist acts. Under the draft code, the State may be considered guilty of committing terrorist activities.