assassination

noun

as·​sas·​si·​na·​tion ə-ˌsa-sə-ˈnā-shən 

plural assassinations

1

: murder by sudden or secret attack often for political reasons : the act or an instance of assassinating someone (such as a prominent political leader)

the assassination of Abraham Lincoln

an assassination attempt

In medieval days, assassination by poisoning was common enough to alarm many a king, and protection was sought in the form of prayers, food tasters and science.

—The New York Times

2

: treacherous destruction of a person's reputation

character assassination

Examples of assassination in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The assassination attempt was one week ago, and Grace is back to working a full schedule and refusing painkillers. — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026

Bishnoi's childhood friend, Satinderjit Singh Brar, allegedly directed the group's North American operations and is also accused in the indictment of ordering the assassination, the indictment said. — Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Bernardeau’s character, Rafael Rodríguez Rapún, was a real person — an activist and actor who’d been Lorca’s romantic partner before the poet’s 1936 assassination by Franco’s forces, spurring Rodríguez Rapún to fight the fascists. — Daniel D'addario, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026

Then 31 years old, Kirk was responding to a question about mass shootings when he was shot in the neck, with graphic videos of the assassination circulating online shortly after. — Mackenzie Chase, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing assassination

• character assassination

Rhymes for assassination

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration