Since 2018, the term "stochastic terrorism" has become a popular descriptor when discussing lone wolf attacks. While the exact definition has evolved over time, it commonly refers to the idea that demonizing or dehumanizing a targeted group or individual incites violence that is statistically likely, but cannot be precisely predicted.
A lone wolf attack, or lone actor attack, is a particular kind of mass murder, committed in a public setting by an individual who plans and commits the act on their own. In the United States, such attacks are usually committed with firearms.